Zwerg Nase (lost TV film adaptation of fairy tale; existence unconfirmed; 1970s-1980s)
Recreation of the main character, Jacob.
Status: Existence Unconfirmed
Zwerg Nase (Long Nose) is a lost film based on a book of the same name by Wilhelm Hauff, presumably made in the 1970s to the 1980s and shown once in a Soviet children's TV show. There are no frames or posters of the movie online, but many remember the film.
Description
The film was apparently very creepy and disturbing to kids. According to a user named vilmerok (translated into English):
"The film was shot in the gothic style, in the genre of realism. From the point of view of camera work, makeup, clothes, made very worthy. There are few scenery, only the necessary minimum, but considering that the camera was filming in a narrow, confined space, these decorations were quite enough. It was filmed by cameras on a magnetic tape. The film is television, the image is clear, and the colors are dim, in gray and brown tones, the lighting is diffused, because in the film it's autumn. Throughout the movie the weather was dull. The atmosphere is gothic, unusually heartfelt, with sinking in the inner world of the main character. Presence of fog or haze. Hopelessness and strain, some other feeling that everything happens in a dream, and the desire to move quickly is impossible. Main hero moved awkwardly like slow-mo, as if pressed to the ground. One of the bright memorable scenes: human heads in the witch’s basket were real and bloody with open mouths. The camera showed heads at close range".
Search
There have been various adaptations of the short story (Including films from 1978 and 1953, and a play from 1970), but none have been confirmed to be the described short.
There have been various efforts to contact people who may have been involved in the film, but it hasn't led to results. Most leads end up as dead-ends or fakes like rumors about Hungarian Video Club of Horror Fans having a copy of the film, and some leads are still open for discussions like the film being a Soviet Teleplay by Leningrad Television or Bulgarian movie that is nowhere to be found, or the film being part of a British anthology series, and the movie possibly being mentioned in Soviet tv guides. However, no leads have led to proof of the movie's existence.
Gallery
Recreation of the title screen.
Recreation of the main character.
Another recreation of the main character.
Third recreation of the main character.
