Mary and The Dwarfs

(Marysia i krasnoludki)


1961   >   children's film/fairytale

Screen adaptation of a classic fairytale by Maria Konopnicka, which for years has been a part of the Polish children's literary canon.

An imaginative combination of live-action and puppet film possible thanks to use of trick cinematography.

The main character is played by Małgosia Piekarska, a child actress who became highly popular a few years earlier after playing the title role in "Argument About Basia".

A fairytale story about the meeting between people and dwarfs living underground.

Dwarf king Błystek orders absentminded annalist Koszałek Opałek to go to the surface of the Earth and look for spring. The naive and credulous dwarf unintentionally makes it possible for a deceitful fox to attack little Marysia's geese. Haunted by remorse, Koszałek decides to help the girl retrieve her flock. Together they embark on a long and difficult journey in an attempt to find the mythical queen Tatra. Meanwhile, the other dwarfs also leave their underground caves and establish contact with friendly villagers. Together they decide to chase away the wicked fox that constitutes a threat to all of them.

The cricket concert scene features performance by world renowned violinist Wanda Wiłkomirska.


Crew:

director
Jerzy Szeski, Konrad Paradowski
script
Zdzisław Skowroński, Jerzy Szeski
d.o.p.
Stanisław Loth
designer
Jerzy Szeski
editor
Zofia Dwornik, Anna Rubińska
music
Grażyna Bacewicz
cast
Małgorzata Piekarska, Wojciech Siemion,
Gustaw Holoubek (głos lisa),
Stanisław Rychlicki (głos króla Błystka),
Maja Komorowska (głos Żagiewki),
Barbara Horawianka (głos królowej Tatry)
Materials: SD
Length: 71’

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