The Snow Maiden (Russian: Снегурочка) is a 1968 film directed by (and starring) Pavel Kadochnikov, based on Alexander Ostrovsky's play by the same name.
Tropes featured in the film:
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Although Kupava probably does attend the Maslenitsa celebration in the play, the text doesn't mention her. Here, she and her father are shown and her engagement to Mizgir is mentioned.
- Adaptational Species Change: A non-animated version thereof. The gemstone that Mizgir tries to use to win the Snow Maiden's favor is a pearl in the original. Here, it's obviously faceted, and though it's not stated what it is (Mizgir simply calls it "the priceless stone"), it's highly unlikely it's a pearl. Probably a case of Pragmatic Adaptation, since an imitation of a diamond-like precious stone was easier to make impressive onscreen than an imitation pearl (or even a cheap actual pearl), what with the limited special effects of the time (The Spring Tale, created just three years later, does have a pearl in the corresponding scene, and it looks rather underwhelming for something that's supposed to outshine the crowns of kings).
- Bridal Carry:
- Lel carries Kupava in his arms after stopping her from drowning herself.
- Mizgir carries the Snow Maiden this way through the forest after she accepts his love.
- Dies Differently In The Adaptation: One of the few deviations from the source material. Mizgir drops dead of a broken heart instead of throwing himself into the lake.
- Hair-Trigger Temper: Ironically for a Jack Frost character, Frost is extremely Hot-Blooded and flies into a rage very easily.
- Jealous Romantic Witness: Like in the play, the Snow Maiden watches Lel, whom she likes, confess his love for Kupava, and is heartbroken.
- Lost in Imitation: The fact that Berendey personally paints the frescoes in his own palace is carried here from the 1952 animated adaptation, while it was not brought up in either the play or the opera.
- Mystical White Hair: The Snow Maiden's hair is silvery-white, which is another sign of how different she is from human girls.
- Pink Means Feminine: Spring Beauty, the only female season personification we meet, is dressed in pink.
- Truer to the Text: The most faithful screen adaptation to date, often following the play word-for-word.
- Virgin in a White Dress: The innocent and virginal Snow Maiden wears a pure-white dress. Doubles as Ethereal White Dress since it clearly looks fantastical among the Slavic-style dresses of Berendeyan girls and remains pristine even after the Snow Maiden runs through the woods.
- Weddings for Everyone: Like in the play, Berendey decides to appease Yarilo by organizing a grand celebration where all engaged couples of the kingdom get married.
- Wizard Beard: Frost has a long fog-like beard.
