Holiday Concert & Film: Jack Frost + The Becker Sisters

Tonight's Holiday Music Program featuring The Becker Sisters begins at 6:15. The film Jack Frost (Morozko, 1964) screens at 7:30 after a short intermission. Light refeshments will be served, please dress warm or bring a blanket to stay cozy. *Free admission for children under 12.

The Becker Sisters Duo is the partnership of soprano, Alyssa Becker, and pianist/composer, Kirsten Becker. Together, they specialize in fresh contemporary classical and seasonal-themed programs. Alyssa's effervescent soprano voice and Kirsten's thoughtful piano arrangements combine an exceptional pairing of talents. Their debut album of original compositions, Love and Thought, was released in February 2022. Their upcoming podcast, Music: The Poetry of the Air will be released in early 2023.

About the Film:

Jack Frost (Morozko, 1964, directed by Aleksandr Rou, 84 minutes) is a delightful and comedic fairytale fantasy for all ages. Based on a traditional Russian fairytale "Morozko" is about Grandfather Frost, a magical elf similar to Santa Claus, known as "Ded Moroz" in Slavic counties, and "Jack Frost" in English. Enjoy this fun trailer by Church of Film!

Synopsis:

Professional Ballerina, Natalya Sedykh stars as Nastenka, a sweet-natured girl who lives with her wicked stepmother and stepsister. Ivan, is a handsome but conceited young man from the village. To teach him a lesson, the mushroom king transforms Ivan into a bear and he must perform a kind and purely selfless deed to change back. Meanwhile, Nastenka is sent into the frozen wilderness by her cruel stepmother and falls prey to Baba Yaga the witch and her enchanted chicken-footed cottage. Faced with trials of magic and self-growth, will the two young lovers ever reunite? 

Continuing Cultural Relevance:

In a light-hearted way, Morozko parodies tropes commonly found in Russian fairytales and today remains a popular holiday viewing staple in many Eastern European countries. Similar to the nostalgic status that Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer holds as a classic in the US, Morozko has been broadcast on TV each year for generations as a part of the Christmas programming in Czech Republic and Slovakia. Created in 1964 by Gorky Film Studio, the use of special effects and color technology in Morozko was very advanced for Soviet cinema at the time. In 1965, the film won a Lion of San Marco Grand Prize at the Venice Film Festival as the best children's film. In 1966, it was released in the United States as Jack Frost, a version with enjoyably silly English-language dubbing which later gained cult status in the 1990's after being featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.