OVERLAY REPORT

In the 1963 Soviet film *Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors* (*Korolevstvo krivykh zerkal*), the relationship between Olya and her mirror reflection, Yalo, serves as the central driver for Olya's character growth. Their bond evolves from one of initial curiosity and irritation to a deep, self-reflective partnership. ### 1. The Initial Meeting: Denial and Fascination At the start of the film, Olya is a headstrong, messy, and irresponsible schoolgirl who ignores her grandmother's advice to "see herself through the eyes of others." After stepping through her grandmother’s mirror, she meets **Yalo** (Olya’s name spelled backward). * **Relationship Detail:** Initially, Olya is fascinated by Yalo as a playmate. However, she quickly becomes annoyed by Yalo's "bad habits"—clumsiness, laziness, and forgetfulness. She treats Yalo as a separate, slightly inferior person, not yet realizing that Yalo is a literal reflection of her own character flaws. ### 2. The Call to Adventure: Olya Takes the Lead The girls witness the arrest of **Gurd** (Friend), a young boy who refuses to make crooked mirrors that lie to the public. Olya’s sense of justice is sparked, and she decides to rescue him. * **Relationship Detail:** In this stage, Olya begins to take the "older sister" or leader role. Yalo reflects Olya’s internal fear and hesitation. By seeing Yalo’s reluctance, Olya is forced to push past her own cowardice to set an example for her reflection, marking the first step in her maturation. ### 3. The Infiltration: Disguise and Shared Purpose To enter the palace, the two girls meet the cook, Aunt Aksal, and disguise themselves as royal pages. * **Relationship Detail:** Their relationship shifts into a tactical partnership. They must move in sync and support one another to maintain their cover. Olya begins to appreciate Yalo’s presence not just as a twin, but as an ally. However, Olya still views Yalo’s mistakes as Yalo’s own fault, rather than a reflection of herself. ### 4. The Turning Point: The Lost Key The most significant evolution occurs when the girls manage to obtain the key to Gurd’s shackles. Because of her characteristic carelessness, **Yalo loses the key.** * **Relationship Detail:** Olya is initially furious and begins to scold Yalo harshly. However, mid-tirade, Olya has a profound "Aha!" moment. She remembers her grandmother’s words and realizes that she is shouting at herself—she is just as careless and forgetful at home. This is the climax of their relationship arc: the antagonism dissolves as Olya accepts Yalo as a part of her. They stop being two separate girls and begin to act as a unified soul. ### 5. The Final Stand: Synergy and Courage The girls must retrieve the second key from the villainous Minister Nushrok. They have to navigate the dangerous Death Tower and face the kingdom’s corrupt leaders (Anidag, Nushrok, and Abazh). * **Relationship Detail:** No longer scolding each other, they work with perfect synergy. Olya’s newfound responsibility is mirrored by a more brave and competent Yalo. They use their identical appearance to confuse the villains, turning their "reflection" status into a strategic weapon. Their bond is now defined by mutual trust and the shared goal of liberation. ### 6. The Return: Integration of the Self After Gurd is freed and the villains are defeated, Olya must return to the real world, leaving Yalo behind. * **Relationship Detail:** The "relationship" concludes with Olya's return home. She is no longer the girl who argues with her reflection. She is now helpful, neat, and attentive to her grandmother. The film implies that she hasn't "lost" Yalo; rather, she has integrated the lessons learned from her mirror self. She no longer needs a magical mirror to see her flaws because she has developed the self-awareness to see them on her own.