Perinbaba: A whimsical treat for the old and the young

MANILA, Philippines — Has it ever occurred to you that snow can be produced by jumping on a duvet? Sure, it can be tiring but it is enjoyable.

Directed by Jurak Jakubisko, it stars Giulietta Masina, Petra Vancíková and Tobias Hoesl.

Perinbaba (The Feather Fairy) is a 1985 Slovakian fantasy treat that will surely bring out the kid in you. The film is perfect for children who want to start young on foreign-language films and grown-ups who want to relive their childhood.

The film is loosely based on Grimms’ fairy tale “Frau Holle” (Old Frost Mother). According to the legend, snow falls to the earth when Frau Holle shakes out her mattress. Two sisters—one good, one evil—visit Frau Holle and do household chores.

Unlike the fairy tale, the old woman in the film resides in a lair sitting atop the mountain where she makes snows, rainbows and other weather occurrences.

Given its fairy tale background, Perinbaba does not differ from the stories we grew up reading and watching as it employs the traditional plot of a peasant girl who falls in love with a knight in shining armor. It also has a fairy god mother, an evil witch, a despicable pair of step mother and step sister and a father oblivious to his daughter’s suffering.

In this film, Jacob is the main protagonist. After defying death through the help of Perinbaba, Jacob becomes her mischievous aide who does not want to stay on top of a mountain even if it guarantees his immortality.

Life in the fairy tale is perfect but Jacob wants to go down on earth, grow old and die like normal people. So he gets down to the human world using a makeshift balloon out of Perinbaba’s bed sheet and wins the heart of Elisabeth—whose storyline is reminiscent of Cinderella.

They overcome troubles—death and evil schemes by Elisabeth’s step mother and step sister. And just like a fairy tale ending, evil is defeated and the protagonists live happily ever after.

The film reflects people’s longing for happiness, love and victory over death. Although his life is perfect, Jacob yearns for a normal life with loved ones and friends down in the human world even if it means that he will eventually die.

Masina’s performance as Perinbaba is mesmerizing. Surprisingly, the titular character does not have much of the run time dedicated to her but it does not hinder her to bring spark and lightness to the story.

While the visual effects are not at par with the ones we enjoy today, the costumes and set designs, especially Perinbaba’s lair, is absolutely magnificent.

Perinbaba is one of the 24 films featured in this year’s installment of Cine Europa. Catch this classic until September 24, Tuesday at Shang Cineplex in Mandaluyong and feel young again. Admission is free on a first come, first served basis.