Scarlet Sails (film)

Scarlet Sails is a 1961 Soviet romantic fantasy film directed by Aleksandr Ptushko and starring Anastasiya Vertinskaya and Vasily Lanovoy. It is based on the 1923 eponymous novella by Alexander Grin.

The film tells the story of Assol, a young woman living in a small fishing village who is prophesied by a traveling storyteller to one day be rescued by a prince sailing on a ship with scarlet sails. The villagers mock her, but Assol holds onto her belief. Years later, Captain Arthur Gray, a nobleman with a romantic soul, hears the story and resolves to make the prophecy come true. He uses his wealth to acquire a large quantity of scarlet silk and instructs his crew to rig the sails of his ship, the Secret, with it. The film culminates with Gray sailing into Assol's village under the scarlet sails, fulfilling her dream.

The film is known for its visual beauty, particularly the scene featuring the ship with scarlet sails, and its themes of hope, belief, and the power of dreams. It was a popular success in the Soviet Union and remains a beloved classic of Russian cinema. The film is often associated with graduation celebrations in Russia, symbolizing the hopeful journey into adulthood.