Smekh i gore u Bela morya

A treat for animation fans and also those of Soviet films. The budget may have been tight, but it doesn't show that much. There is a lot of detail in the character designs, and there are some beautiful backgrounds especially in the final story. The music does quirky and melancholic very convincingly, and Laughter and Grief by the White Sea is very well written. The comedy is genuinely hilarious and when Laughter and Grief by the White Sea takes a serious turn it is very poignant too. Those qualities are reflected too in the story structure, which always engages and is well-structured, and not to the extent that the changing moods jar too much. There isn't the two different films sort of feeling, which is a good thing. The stories that make up this structure are light-hearted and moving, the final story is stunning in every regard. The narration is thoughtful and sonorously delivered, and the characters carry their stories beautifully. The voice acting is noble and sensitive, with some entertaining theatricality in the earlier stories. In conclusion, hilarious and beautiful, recommended without any kind of hesitation. 10/10 Bethany Cox