1 / 7
RUNTIME
Did you know
Tight 27-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Sredni Vashtar
1981 0h 27m EN
👍
7.2
SOLID
★7.2TMDB · 6
DramaHorror
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
Sredni Vashtar is a 1981 short film, written, produced and directed by Andrew Birkin, based on the short story of the same name written by Hector Hugh Munro. The story concerns a slowly dying ten-year-old boy named Conradin, who lives with his strict cousin and guardian, Mrs. De Ropp. Conradin rebels against her and invents a new religion for himself, which centres on idolising a polecat-ferret he calls Sredni Vashtar; a vengeful, merciless god. The film won the BAFTA award for Best Short Film, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Sacha Puttnam
Conradin
Judy Campbell
Aunt Augusta
Lila Kaye
Mrs. Woolridge
Patty Hannock
Effie
Gorden Kaye
Ogden
Vernon Dobtcheff
Dr. Russell
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Andrew Birkin
- Writers
- Andrew Birkin, Hector Hugh Munro
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Andrew Birkin directs. Peter Hollywood cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 1Tight 27-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
- 245 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 4Editor Peter Hollywood shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 5Sacha Puttnam and Judy Campbell and Lila Kaye carry the top of the cast.
- 6IMDB entry: tt0084722 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 7Only 6 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Editing
- Peter Hollywood
- Runtime
- 27 min · 0h 27m
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
Also by
Andrew Birkin
Community reviews
What people are saying
- CinemaSerf★ 7/10
Alexander Puttnam turns in a charming performance here as the young "Conradin" who is trapped in a gilded cage by his aunt "Augusta" (Judy Campbell) for fear that his already terminal illness will worsen. Much to his indifference, she has determined to get him a new personal tutor and "Mortimer" (Alan Corduna) is employed to teach the boy Latin, but he has zero interest. His interests are simply for his pet hen, secreted away in a shed at the bottom of the garden and for the eponymous deity which has taken form as a pole cat and whom he worships in the hope that he might be helped to escape from his ongoing purgatory. With his ever vigilant aunt watching his every move and the doctor (Vernon Dobtcheff) supporting this kid-gloves approach, it doesn't seem likely that things are ever going to change... or might they? This reminded me a little of a "Tales of the Unexpected" style of story, with a deliciously dark thread to it that successfully imbues a degree of paganism amidst an household of ostensibly Christian virtue. The dialogue is sparing yet still serves to further illustrate just how the young man, though never physically at risk, is entirely dominated by the constraints of manners and protocol. I did rather like then ending - and who doesn't like fresh toast made over an open fire.
Production companies
Who made it
- LA
Laurentic Film Productions
Key crew
- CinematographyPeter Hannan
- EditorPeter Hollywood
- ProducerAndrew Birkin
- Associate ProducerBrian Burgess
- Executive ProducerHarvey Bernhard
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1981-09-01
