Saving Krasavitsa: the National Centre RUSSIA screened a film adaptation of a story that gave hope to besieged Leningrad

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A pre-premiere screening of the film "Krasavitsa" ("Beauty"), telling the remarkable true story of the rescue of Europe’s largest hippopotamus during the Siege of Leningrad, was held at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event took place in the "Space of Opportunities" of the #FirstCinemaClub with the support of the Russia TV channel. The film is based on real events.

At the heart of the story is the Leningrad Zoo. At the outbreak of the war, almost all animals were evacuated, but Krasavitsa — a massive hippopotamus weighing over two tonnes — could not be transported anywhere. The animal was doomed to die.

The film is based on the documented feat of Yevdokia Dashina, an employee of the Leningrad Zoo. Every day she carried 400 litres of water from the Neva River to wash the animal’s skin and rub fat into it to prevent fatal cracks from forming. Instead of the standard 40 kilograms of feed, the hippopotamus had to survive on a meagre mixture of 4–6 kilograms of sawdust and oilcake. During air raids, the woman would climb down into the empty pool to hug and calm the trembling animal. Exhausted by the blockade, Leningrad residents who learned about her efforts from radio broadcasts came to help carry water. Thanks to this care, Krasavitsa survived all 900 days of the siege.

"This story sounds like a legend, but it is absolutely true. And many residents of Leningrad, especially the older generation, know it well. I myself learned about it for the first time only while working on the film, and I was deeply struck. Perhaps that is why it was so important for me to tell it calmly, without pathos — as a story of human resilience, love, and responsibility. When I was offered this script, I immediately said that it was a profound and serious story. It is a film about how important it is to remain human in the most inhuman conditions," said the film’s director Anton Bogdanov.

Another protagonist of the film is Sergeant Nikolai Svetlov, who, after suffering a severe concussion, dreams of only one thing — returning to the front line. Instead, he is assigned to the zoo. At first, the hardened soldier perceives his service among empty enclosures as an absurd misunderstanding, but gradually he comes to realise that this place has its own front line, and at its centre is the struggle for Krasavitsa’s life. Through caring for her, through selfless love and compassion, the film’s characters preserve their spark of humanity and give hope for a miracle to the wounded city.

The film’s main "heroine" — the hippopotamus Krasavitsa — was voiced by People’s Artist of the Russian Federation Maria Aronova. The cast also includes well-known Russian actors Slava Kopeykin, Yuliya Peresild, Stasya Miloslavskaya, Viktor Sukhorukov, and Ivan Dobronravov.

The #FirstCinemaClub offers an opportunity to immerse oneself in the world of cinema, share impressions, and discuss the most striking films. Screenings are free of charge and open to everyone. Meetings of the club are moderated by young participants of media projects of the Movement of the First. Information about #FirstCinemaClub screenings is available on the Movement’s social media platforms.

The film’s premiere is scheduled for 19 February 2026.