The Vanquishing of the Witch Baba Yaga

Nov 01, 2014

(Jessica Oreck, United States/Russia/Ukraine/Poland, 2013, 72 min)

An iconic fairy tale reveals its philosophical roots (and ripple effects) in this journey deep into the forest. The widely-known Eastern European folk tale of Baba Yaga tells of a witch with a cabin on chicken’s legs, and a penchant for children’s flesh. But Yaga’s world took on new meaning during wartime, when those who once feared her began to flee into the woods in search of refuge. 

Casting the relationship between humans and the wilderness in the cultural light of progress, modernism and communism, Oreck weaves together layers of history with the many-colored resonances of collective memory. The multiple existential inquiries, historical contexts and narrative directions are stitched together through storybook animation, poetic documentary and essayistic musings. At the heart of fantasy lies the vanquishing of more than one reality.

  • This screening is part of our long weekend of N-E-X D-O-C-S, a mini festival that celebrates innovative new documentaries from around the world. Get a series pass and see all of the docs at a discount: $40 ($25 for Film Forum Members) >

The Vanquishing of the Witch Baba Yaga Teaser from Myriapod Productions on Vimeo.

<Back to Calendar