Based on the Ukrainian folktale, the old dog of a village family is not as keen as he once was, and is sent away after he fails to guard their house during a robbery. In the woods, he meets the wolf he protected his masters against long ago, who decides to pay a favor to get his old enemy's rightful place back in the doghouse.
Writing
Economic storytelling, every frame earns its keep.
Acting
Burkov's exhausted dog voice = instant empathy.

Director
Eduard Nazarov
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Soyuzmultfilm was the USSR's premier studio; this short exemplifies their 'simple stories, complex souls' philosophy that made Soviet animation globally respected.
Nazarov adapted this from a Ukrainian folktale he'd heard as a child, keeping the oral storytelling rhythm in the narrator's direct address to camera.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters