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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
If you have about an hour and you don't mind a movie that looks like it was filmed inside a dusty fireplace, you should give Cherevichki a chance. It is definitely worth watching today if you like folk tales that feel a bit unhinged.
People who love big-budget CGI will probably hate this. It’s old, it’s grainy, and the acting is about as subtle as a brick to the face. 🧱
But if you like movies that feel like a weird dream you had after eating too much cheese, this is the one. It’s based on that Nikolay Gogol story about Christmas Eve, and it’s got such a strange, bouncy energy.
The story kicks off with Vakula, played by A. Kharitonov, who is just this incredibly earnest blacksmith. He’s in love with Oksana, who is basically the village mean girl but with better outfits.
She tells him she’ll only marry him if he gets her the cherevichki—the slippers—straight off the feet of the Empress. Talk about high maintenance. 👠
Vakula doesn't even hesitate. He’s just like, "Okay, cool, let me find a devil to ride to the capital."
The Devil in this movie is my favorite part. He doesn't look scary at all. He looks like a guy in a fuzzy black jumpsuit with little ears that flop around when he moves.
There is this one scene where the Devil is trying to steal the moon. He’s just grabbing at the air and it’s so goofy it made me smile.
You can tell the filmmakers were having a blast with the camera tricks. They do these primitive overlays where characters appear and disappear, and it feels more magical than most modern stuff because you can see the effort.
The village sets are clearly built on a stage, but they have this cozy, cramped feeling. You can almost feel the cold, even though the snow is clearly just piles of salt or flour. ❄️
I loved the scene where the fat Cossack is eating dumplings. They just fly through the air and land in his mouth. It’s a simple trick, but the timing is perfect.
The actings is very big. Like, everyone uses their whole body to say "hello."
It’s a lot more fun than The Kreutzer Sonata, which is way too heavy for a Tuesday night. This is more like a bedtime story for adults who haven't grown up.
At one point, the movie gets a bit slow when they’re in the palace. There’s a lot of bowing and walking through big doors.
I found myself staring at the background extras. One guy in a wig looks like he’s genuinely lost and is just trying to find the exit.
The print I watched was pretty beat up. There are these vertical scratches that make it look like it’s raining inside the houses sometimes.
It doesn't have the same polished look as something like Mishki protiv Yudenicha, but it has way more personality. It feels more human, somehow.
The chemistry between Vakula and the Devil is actually better than the romance. They have this weird buddy-cop dynamic once Vakula grabs him by the tail.
The devil's facial expressions are gold. He looks so annoyed that he has to carry a blacksmith across the sky. 👹
There’s a moment in the middle where a bunch of guys get stuck in sacks. It goes on for a long time. Like, maybe five minutes too long.
You see one sack wiggle, then another, then another. It’s like a 1920s version of a sitcom misunderstanding.
I noticed that Oksana’s hair stays perfectly in place no matter how much she’s pouting. That’s the real magic of the movie, honestly.
The ending is a bit of a rush. They get back to the village, there’s a quick wedding, and then it’s over.
It’s not a deep movie. It’s not trying to change your life or make you think about the human condition.
It’s just a story about a guy who rides a demon to get some shoes. And honestly? That’s enough for me.
If you find a version with a good piano score, it makes a huge difference. The silence can be a bit heavy otherwise.
I’ll probably think about that fuzzy devil every time I see a "gritty" reboot of a fairy tale now. They should bring back the jumpsuits.
Overall, it’s a bit of a mess, but it’s a beautiful mess. It’s the kind of thing you watch when you’re tired of everything being so perfect and boring.
Go watch it for the dumplings. Stay for the devil ride. 🥟✨
IMDb —
1922
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