A Story of the Forest: Mavka

Mavka, a water nymph, loves Lukash, a country youth. Their brief happiness ends when Lukash is forced to marry the shrewish Kilina. The Spirit of the Forest turns Lukash into a wolf as punishment for his infidelity. The strength of Mavka's love breaks the spell, but Kilina curses the nymph, transforming her into a weeping willow. This beautiful and tragic story is based on a play written in 1912 by Lesya Ukrainka, a Ukrainian poet, writer and political, civil and female activist, and includes mythological characters taken from Ukrainian folklore.

Director: Yurii Illienko

Cast

Lyudmila Efimenko

Mavka

Viktor Kremlev

Lukash

Maya Bulgakova

Lukash’s Mother

Ivan Mykolaichuk

Uncle Leo / Wood Goblin

Boris Khmelnitsky

Red (forest) Demon

Viktor Demertash

Koots

Liudmyla Lobza

Kylyna

Nina Shatskaya

Water Sprite