Because sometimes when I feel equal parts creative and uninspired, I find old or arty films are very much chicken soup for the art-blocked soul, and since I’ve seen quite a few people making little lists of links for other people to see, I though I’d share these in the hopes that someone loves them as much as I have.

Hedgehog in the Fog (1975) 
An adorable and slightly eerie (the owl is the stuff of nightmares) short animation by Yuriy Norshteyn - and incidentally  apparently one of Hayao Miyazaki’s favourite animations too. 

The Mermaid (1997) (Rusalka)
Aleksander Petrov is quite a notable gentleman as his animations are done with pastel oil paints on glass sheets - and they are truly beautiful. He has also done a lovely version of Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, which is worth seeing. 

Father Frost (1964)
This is a full length Russian movie, and a real joy to watch if you have the time. It’s very enchanting, and equal parts a tiny bit hilarious - it was made as a Christmas time film, and considering the budget for it, surprisingly good. This version doesn’t have subtitles, I’m afraid - the version I usually go to has been taken down, but I’m sure sooner or later it will crop up again - despite the language barrier, it’s not too hard to get the gist of the story anyway (and the costumes are very pretty to look at!).

Rusalochka (1976) (The Little Mermaid)
Another Russian fairy tale full length film - in my opinion it’s heartbreaking and sublime. You may recognize it, I’ve certainly seen the graphics and avatars with the lead actress floating around tumblr - Evanna Lynch with blue hair and breezy gauze dresses, anyone?

At Land (1944)  
Maya Deren’s first film, it’s a very surreal story about a woman’s self discovery on an island (in her mind? In someone else’s mind? In the Fourth Dimension? Up to you?), absolutely incredible to watch. 

Ekki múkk (2012)  
This just came out last month as part of Sigur Rós’ Valtari Mystery Film Experiment (look for the others in the set if you have time). Quite Beatrix Potter-esque in a heartbreaking way.

Alice in Wonderland (1903)  
The first ever Alice in Wonderland film, and quite appropriately strange and wonderland-y considering. 

The Master and Margarita (2005)
My poor followers will have heard me ramble on about how incredible the book is about a thousand times over, but I don’t think I’ll ever get over reading it. This miniseries of it deserves all the praise I can spare from the book; the script is almost word-for-word, it has a very clever use of sepia and colour (think Schindler’s List), and the acting is amazing. At least try to get to episode seven, I beg you.
To watch this with english, or otherwise, subtitles, you will have to turn on captions.

I was also going to post a link to one of the best movies I’ve ever seen - an anthology of seven folk ballads acted out word for word with the most beautiful visuals you could imagine - from a girl marrying a merman and having an adorable merbaby, the ghost of a soldier spiriting away his perplexed widow, to a frustrated mother encountering what may be the wrong way to quiet a screaming baby (hint: magic). Unfortunately, the user has removed it, so instead here’s a small taste (I do advise people to hunt down the whole movie for themselves though):
Kytice (2000)