Puppet is a difficult technique, so I don't like watching most of these films. HOWEVER, The Magic Lake surprised me with its excellent aesthetic. Even the music part, I see similarities with the music in Chinese cinema at that time. This : Laoshan Daoshi

As for films or stories about Baba-Yaga, I've almost tried not to miss them since I was a kid. I even learned that the acting prowess of male star Georgiy Millyar became the model for any Baba-Yaga character appearing on the screen after the 1960s.

In this film, Mariya represents spring, while Baba-Yaga and sometimes Kikimora represents autumn or winter. Danila must go into the magic lake to develop intellectually, personally and strengthen his faith. Life has many pitfalls, but in the end, faith, energy and love will overcome them all.

The Powder General

Tò-he (面塑, "toy figures") is a long-standing folk toy of Northern Vietnamese people. These are simply animals or sometimes characters created with rice flour mixed with water paint. Usually, the artist will attach a very small bamboo whistle to this toy so that kids can blow it for fun. However, in this story, because of a little mistake by the artist, the children almost lost a precious game.