The storyline behind Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF) offering 'Dobrinya and The Dragon' is going to sound just a wee bit familiar.

This Russian children's cartoon produced by Ilya Maksimov of Melnitsa animation studio is about a feisty princess, Zabava who is kidnapped and held prisoner while her love interest, Yesley, gallantly rides to save her. It's the spin put on this classic tale that is delightful.

The three-headed dragon, Gorinitch, isn't so evil, doesn't fly very well, and attempts to burn the witch's shack down with a lit match.

In one of the oddest twists in the film, the dragon attempts to save the princess.

In many ways, the film is about mentors.

Yesley travels with the local hero Dobrinya, who is a kind of Arnold Schwarzenegger of the area.

Along the way, Dobrinya reluctantly teaches Yesley a thing or two about life and heroship.

"Everything is important in military strategy – tactics, strategy, but it is most important to have real guts," Dobrinya tells Yesley. "What I'm saying is, if you're the least bit spiritually weak you're as good as lost."

Easy to say when you tower more than everyone like Dobrinya.

But what about a skinny messenger boy?

Well, Dobrinya has him doing push-ups to help him beef up.

Princess Zabava has been kidnapped, but she's no pushover. She doesn't go willingly, and she's a mean hand with a frying pan.

The only reason she doesn't free herself is that she's waiting for her true love to prove himself.

The movie is subtitled, so if you bring younger children you may have to whisper what's going on to them.

BIFF literature has the film for nine-year-olds, but aside from the subtitle issue, there's really nothing in it that is inappropriate for younger children.

In terms of violence, Dobrinya does rearrange the smiles of a few barbarians, but that's about it.

'Dobrinya and the Dragon' is a sweet, beautifully animated film. If you miss the old days when characters weren't "3-D" then this lushly animated movie is going to make you happy.

The style of animation uses lots of textures and patterns in the artwork, which makes it a visual treat.

My only complaint is the music, which was half-hearted and downright strange.

At one point, a group of women start singing about love and it sounds like traditional Russian music mixed with hip-hop and rock and roll.

Sometimes there's a nice beat going behind the animation, but it never quite establishes itself. In terms of music, this movie is no 'Shrek'.

'Dobrinya and The Dragon' is made by Melnitsa Studios based in St. Petersburg, Russia.

This studio has made a number of animated long and short films including blockbuster 'Prince Vladimir'.

Dobrinya and the Dragon is actually part of the '3 Bogatyrs' trilogy.

Dobrinya and the Dragon will screen at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute at 3.45 p.m. on Sunday. To book tickets go to www.bermudafilmfest.com.