Virtual Friday Night Films at the Wende: Khraniteli

A decade before the release of Peter Jackson’s movie trilogy, a Soviet version of JRR Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, called Khraniteli (1991) aired on Leningrad TV. With its mismatched costumes, ramshackle sets, and rudimentary special effects, the no-budget production managed to create a delightfully trippy adaptation. It was based on the first official translation of Tolkien into Russian, from 1982 (although samizdat translations of the 1954 novel started circulating in the 1960s).

The film was reportedly aired only once before disappearing until 5TV, Leningrad TV’s successor, uploaded it to Youtube late this March, where it has since gathered nearly 2 million views. Andrei Romanov of the band Akvarium narrated the film and created its prog-rock score.

Free to watch on YouTube.

—

Virtual Film Picks are inspired by the in-person Friday Night Films at the Wende program series. This selection is part of a curated list of weekly movie suggestions that can be watched at home, in conjunction with #WendeOnline.