This big budget 1987 Polish musical is wonderful to listen to in its beguiling native language and glorious to view with its colorful costumes and breathtaking scenery. The story involves a magic ring and rose which enables its owners to be forever lovable and beautiful to all. Prince Bulbo has the ring. He wishes to marry Angelika, but doesn't realize the importance of the rose.
Prince Luleljko and Princess Rozia(played by the stunningly gorgeous Katarzyna Figura)should be the rightful rulers, but their uncles instead want Bulbo and Angelika to govern. Luleljko at first falls for the Queen(because of the enchanted ring which has come into her possession), then is overcome with desire for the maid, Rozia, instead. The maid, it should be noted, is an outcast from her kingdom.
The Fairy Blackstick watches over both Luleljko and Rozia, but has given them some misfortune to start their young lives, so as to prove that only after hardships are overcome can life truly be appreciated. An important event occurs early in the story when the Fairy Blackstick(her name in the original story)changes the Queen's husband into a door knocker. (a very brief, but excellent use of claymation) This is vital to the plot because towards the end of the film, Prince Luleljko is prevented from marrying Rozia, by being forced to wed the widow Queen because of a document which he had drawn up earlier.
Along the way, Rozia accidentally winds up in her former kingdom, in which her royalty is revealed. She is then abducted by rival factions. Will she be rescued? Will Luleljko and Rozia ever have their "royal wedding"? Although set in the distant past, there are some modern day dance sequences and nods to Star Wars that boost the frivolity to a higher level. The music and songs are fun and as with most musicals, the language is no barrier to understanding the story.
Prince Luleljko and Princess Rozia(played by the stunningly gorgeous Katarzyna Figura)should be the rightful rulers, but their uncles instead want Bulbo and Angelika to govern. Luleljko at first falls for the Queen(because of the enchanted ring which has come into her possession), then is overcome with desire for the maid, Rozia, instead. The maid, it should be noted, is an outcast from her kingdom.
The Fairy Blackstick watches over both Luleljko and Rozia, but has given them some misfortune to start their young lives, so as to prove that only after hardships are overcome can life truly be appreciated. An important event occurs early in the story when the Fairy Blackstick(her name in the original story)changes the Queen's husband into a door knocker. (a very brief, but excellent use of claymation) This is vital to the plot because towards the end of the film, Prince Luleljko is prevented from marrying Rozia, by being forced to wed the widow Queen because of a document which he had drawn up earlier.
Along the way, Rozia accidentally winds up in her former kingdom, in which her royalty is revealed. She is then abducted by rival factions. Will she be rescued? Will Luleljko and Rozia ever have their "royal wedding"? Although set in the distant past, there are some modern day dance sequences and nods to Star Wars that boost the frivolity to a higher level. The music and songs are fun and as with most musicals, the language is no barrier to understanding the story.
