An absolute waste of money

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

A wonderful example of prewar Soviet cinematography has been recently released on DVD in Russia. The story is based on a well known folk tale about a magical pike. The movie uses details from other fairy tales to add the flavor. The digital restoration makes this beautiful black and white movie enjoyable to watch. Acting is very spirited, yet do not expect modern "professional" acting nor 21-st century digital effects. Have your imagination run wild watching the magically propelled wood stove.Unfortunately, the DVD has only original Russian track. Neither translation nor subtitles are available.