The Flying Ship - Russian Movie Night
By Anisha Pemjee
17 March 2025
‘The Flying Ship’ was this month’s featured film at the ever-popular Russian Movie Night event in Pretoria, South Africa. The audience was treated to a fantastical musical comedy based on the 1979 Soviet cartoon of the same name. Rooted in folklore, the story is filled with magical creatures and enchanting elements.
Introducing the 2024 remake to guests, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to South Africa, Roman Ambarov remarked, “This has nothing to do with the legend of the Flying Dutchman, which originates in Cape Town. This tale is as old as time—a ruler of the kingdom wants his daughter, Princess Zabava, to marry Paul, the sole heir of the wealthy Polkan. But the princess wants to marry for love. Her unexpected encounter with Ivan, an honest and charming sailor, throws a wrench into Paul’s plans to claim the crown. The villain wields dark magic and wealth, while Ivan has the support of magical creatures, love, and an unshakable dream. Let’s see who prevails.”
At its core, the movie carries a timeless message: good triumphs over evil. This seemingly simple plotline is brought to life through stunning cinematography, vibrant traditional Russian costumes, and beautifully composed songs, making for a captivating viewing experience.
Alongside the screening, guests also had the opportunity to explore the 10th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest exhibition. The exhibition featured powerful images captured by photographers from Russia, China, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Syria, and Italy. South African photographer Gunner Oberhosel’s photo series, ‘Fire,’ earned recognition in the Top News category.
The showcased photographs not only reflected the challenging times we live in but also celebrated the beauty and diversity of the world.
READ ALSO: The Andrei Stenin photo contest exhibition
Andrei Stenin, an acclaimed Russian photojournalist, was tragically killed while on assignment in Ukraine. Launched in 2014 in his honor, the contest aims to discover and support young, talented photographers from around the globe.
The works of young photojournalists who won the Stenin Prize were exhibited in Pretoria for the first time in 2020.