THE LITTLE MERMAID is one of many filmed Soviet versions of classic fairy stories. Anyone familiar with the Disney animated version of this story will find this tale unrecognisable, containing as it does a beautiful young woman who is forced to give up her magical elements in order to live on dry land amid polite society. The film contains the usual morality, humour from a village idiot, and low key romance, but it's also very mannered and dated. There are moments of ethereal atmosphere where it's all worthwhile, but overall this is quite stodgy and unappealing, lacking the proper sense of wonder and magic.
Review of The Little Mermaid
The Little Mermaid
(1976)
Soviet version of the tale is very different
2 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers