Vasiliy Buslaev (1982): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1982, Vasiliy Buslaev is a fantasy, adventure and family film directed by Gennadi Vasilyev, running about 81 minutes.

What it’s about. The film is based on Sergei Narovchatov’s poem. Vassily Buslayev is an epic Russian hero who rose to defend the freedom and independence of his people. The strength and power of this son of a Novgorod governor, his friendship with simple folk enraged and scared the rich, fat merchants of the city. When they learned that the young man was setting out on a march to save his native land from the enemy, they couldn’t be more happy: how could he defeat a foe so mighty! But Vassily overcomes all intrigues and brings his expedition to a victorious end. He returns home a hero, and not alone but with a sweetheart. When a threat of enemy invasion again looms over Novgorod, people come and beg Vassily to defend their native land.

Who’s in it. Vasiliy Buslaev stars Dmitriy Zolotukhin as Vasili Buslayev, Lyudmila Khityaeva as Vasili's mother, Irina Alfyorova as Ksenia and Valeriy Nosik as Filka, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Vasiliy Buslaev has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Vasiliy Buslaev page.

If you liked it. Fans of Vasiliy Buslaev tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Green Mile, Spirited Away and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.