How the Cossacks Played Football

How the Cossacks Played Football (Russian: Как казаки в футбол играли) is a Soviet animated short film from the Kyivnaukfilm studio, released in 1970, it is one of the most famous episode and the third story in the "Cossacks" series.^[1]

How the Cossacks Played Football
Directed by	Volodymyr Dakhno
Written by	Volodymyr Kapustyan
Cinematography	Anatoliy Havrylov
Music by	Boris Buievskyi
Production company	Kyivnaukfilm
Release date	1970 (1970)
Running time	17 min 33 sec
Country	Soviet Union
Language	Russian credits

Plot

The animated film begins with the Cossacks awaiting the return of Gray, Oko, and Tur from London. Upon their return, they not only share stories about the city but also introduce a game they witnessed there — football. The Cossack troop then starts training to win the football championship cup in England. The three Cossacks, who taught others the basics of football, gather a team and head West to the accompaniment of the Cossack March, leaving their weapons at home.

The Cossacks play in three European countries. The first, unnamed country is indicated by the scoreboard displaying the word "Knights" during the score presentation, presumably representing players from medieval Germany. Initially, the Cossacks struggle to break through the knights' defense, dressed in armor. They counter the knights with agility, playing in a way that prevents their opponents from intercepting the ball.

In France, they play against musketeers in a palace. The musketeers elegantly pass the ball to each other, but the Cossacks rely on lively pressure based on the movements of the Ukrainian folk dance Hopak and win the match.

The match in England takes place in London. Initially, the field is soaked due to rain, and the English stand on small islands, passing the ball between them. Tur then hits the ball into the clouds, stopping the rain. The field dries up, allowing the Cossacks to quickly outplay the English. The English queen reluctantly presents them with the cup, which the Cossacks bring home.

Production Team

• Director: Volodymyr Dakhno
• Screenwriter: Volodymyr Kapustyan [uk]
• Composer: Boris Buyevsky [uk]
• Animators: Serhiy Dyozhkin, V. Yemelyanova, Adolf Pedan [uk], Mark Draytsun [uk], Nina Churilova [uk], Oleksandr Lavrov [uk], Mykola Bondar, Mykhailo Tytov [uk], Oleksandr Viken [uk], Volodymyr Dakhno, Elvira Peretyatko
• Cinematographer: Anatoliy Havrylov
• Sound Engineer: Leonid Moroz [uk]
• Editor: Tadeush Pavlenko [uk]
• Film Director: Ivan Mazepa

References

• "My handwriting is Ukrainian. To the 85th anniversary of the birth of the Ukrainian cartoonist, director, screenwriter Volodymyr Dakhno" (in Ukrainian) Archive
• Volodymyr Dakhno. "How the Cossacks Did Not Reach the Thirteenth Kingdom (in Ukrainian) Archive
• How the Cossacks Played Football at IMDb