Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
"Is it hard to imagine that possibly the precursor of polo, a game for the wealthy, may be goat-carcass throwing, where teams of players on horseback throw a very heavy goat carcass through the opponents' goal to score? This and other unusual games are highlighted in this film. In the Soviet Union there are thirty types of wrestling including the popular bareback wrestling in the snow as practiced by the people of the north. Georgian caspar fencing, the eagle dance, archery, sleigh jumping, and other ancient and traditional sports are featured to make a rather engrossing film."Needless to say, this film is a goldmine for wacky, campy sports. The bareback snow wrestling has to be seen to be believed.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Opening Montage: high angle wide LS of an outdoor track and field stadium as Soviet athletes walk the track (not Olympic footage); great tight LS of the head of the Soviet athlete march, accompanied by a large bronze-colored bannerof the infamous hammer and sickle insignia; LS's of a professional indoor men's soccer game; MS of a man and a woman swimming in an indoor pool; MS's of archers pulling bows; MS's of men wrestling.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Siberian/ Soviet Far East Folk Festival: MS's of Siberian men and woman marching a la stadium athletes seen previously, but in a sunny and secluded field; good MS's of men and women in traditional clothing dancing.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Nice zooming tight LS of sunset by a whispering lake, several Soviet architecural styled building in silouette in the BG. MS's of the bulbous buildings. CU's of ancient tools (stiks and balls) used as part of a game called Cauldron. MS's of several young men playing Cauldron, a game eerily similar to hockey but played on a field with the goal a hole in the ground.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Russian Winter Festival: MS's of Russian peoples in jolly grab dancing and smiling as they celebrate the outdoor event. Montage of Festival's sporting events: water pail race, log saw competition, sledding, and horse carriage race (great shots of gorgeous horses pulling sled along icy path).
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Establishing shots of Georgia countryside: misty mountains and valleys, ancient fortress ruins, quiet center of town, etc. MS's of young men learning the art of Hepsur fencing in a remote area (the sport involves a heavy iron sword and a small iron shield). Cut to great MS's and tight LS's of two adults males fencing on a pass bridge overlooking a rushing river, then along the countless rocks, then before the young students by the riverside. Looks almost medieval. Cut to slo mo MS of two shirtless young boys crossing a river on horseback. MS of a young boy in traditional Georgian grab riding a pony through a field. Wide MS of several men racing horses along a dirt path in a Cossak village. MS's of stunt riding: a young man spurring horse as he cuts down strategically placed branches with a saber; several men participate in the exotic "Fight of the Sultans" (while on horseback they try to stab a balloon hanging from the rider's hat).
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Establishing shot of snowcapped Kergizian mountains, followed by nice tight LS of two Kerg men riding horses through a snowy scenic valley. Four Kerg men have a competition to see who's the best rider: MS's of two men (on horseback) shaking hands, only for it to turn into a congenial wrestling match; great MS's and CU's of two teams of Kerg horsemen competing in the goat carcass event (the object is to secure and toss the heavy goat carcass into the opposing team's goal). Ends with tight LS of the horsemen riding up a hill.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Establishing shots of the Primapress Tundra, in the greater Soviet North. Tight LS of snowy field on a sunny day, cut to tight LS of a Soviet military tank rolling through the field and past a nuclear power facility (in BG, on a hill). Tight LS of a freighter sailing through an icy floe. Quick shot of a small engine plane taking off, cut to aerial shot of a reindeer herd wandering through a snowy wood. MS of the reindeer herd, followed by excellent MS's of fur-wearin' men throwing lassos into the herd. Tight LS's of a large group of cross-country skiiers making their way up a hill. MS's and tight LS's of a reindeer sleigh race (like dog sled but with reindeer). MS of four men competing in the lasso event (tossing a lasso up a pole). MS's of men in a heat of the sleigh jump (like the hurdles). Great panning MS of eager folks cheering the competition. Good MS's of men wrestling shirtless in the snow... but they are wearing animal hide pants, though. Weird. Cut to CU of a woman playing a Jew's Harp; CU of an indigenous drum being struck, pan right to MS of several men and women dancing in a circle to the peculiar folk music being played. Cut to the Eagle Dance event: MS's and CU's of men wearing silver bikini briefs, furry boots and a silver shirt that covers only their arms (sounds weird but looks pretty nifty) as they imitate the flight of an eagle on a grassy field. Later they wrestle one another, the loser being the one knocked to the ground first. These are big, strong men (Mongolian in appearance), with fine wrestling skills. Good MS of the victor doing a celebration dance (merely a continuation of the Eagle Dance).
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Fantastic MS's of young boys (Mongolian in appearance) wrestling happily in the shade of a wood as Coach Dimitry Korkin watches with a smile. Cut to montage of his wrestling school: MS's and CU's of young men in colorful singlets as they train outdoors by climbing pegboard walls, hopping on wood poles, wrestle indoors on mats, and so on. This is Dmitry's school of freestyle wrestling. Cut to CU's of people as they watch an outdoor wrestling event (they are in captivation).
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
Gorab-ki (sp?) event. An odd game similar to shuffleboard or bocce ball. Targets in a little square have to be knocked apart with a special bat (hurler stands some dozen yards away and sidearms the bat). MS's of young and old watching the outdoor event. High angle tight LS of the specially designed gorab ki courts. Zooming MS of Alexander Sidnikow (sp?), a former grand master of the sport; MS's and CU's of Alex training his teenage son the game. Cut to excellent slo mo MS's of professional players in competition (when slowed down one sees what a truly difficult and unique game it is).
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
The Bourad Festival Sourhardbarn (spelled phoenetically so it is surely wrong). Excellent montage of archers: tight CU of a young Far East woman sighting a target, then drawing her bow; MS's of same; CU's of arrows piercing numbered sandbags (their targets); CU of an old Far East man drawing a specially designed bow. MS's of the old man at home and fashioning a bow from wood, horn and bull's tendon as a young boy sits and watches in the BG. Cut to MS's of the native peoples in traditional clothing and dancing in the center of a remote village, then to more great CU's of archers and their handmade bows and arrows as they compete.
Traditional Sports Of The Soviet Peoples
CU of several modern metal bows and arrows on a rack in a grassy field. MS's of male and female world class archers stringing bows. Ends with MS's of Soviet athletes marching as if on parade.