Umka

Umka

Year: 1969

Runtime: 10 mins

Language: Russian

Directors: Vladimir Popov, Vladimir Pekar

AnimationComedyFamily

White little bear hides from his mother friendship with a human who smells smoke.

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Timeline & Setting – Umka (1969)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Umka (1969). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Arctic, ice floes, sea

Set against a stark Arctic backdrop of snow, ice floes, and the edge of the sea. A polar bear mother and her cub Umka navigate a world where humans appear as reindeer herders and two-legged bears. The icy landscape shapes every choice, from hunting for fish to crossing frozen plains.

🧊 Polar environment ❄️ Snow landscapes 🐻 Polar bears

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:29

Main Characters – Umka (1969)

Meet the key characters of Umka (1969), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Boy (Klara Rumyanova)

A curious Chukchi boy who meets Umka after a fall from a reindeer. He sniffs Umka and teases him with playful tricks, including placing a snowball on Umka's snout and tossing his cap into the air. His presence sparks questions about the world, and his disappearance with the humans leaves Umka clinging to the cap as a symbol of friendship lost.

🐾 Curious 👀 Observant 🧭 Adventurous

Umka (Margarita Korabelnikova)

A curious polar bear cub guided by his mother, learning to navigate a world of humans and hidden dangers. He tries to walk on hind legs, hunt from ice holes, and understand the smell of smoke that reveals human presence. The journey with the Chukchi boy and the eventual relocation frame his growth, resilience, and longing for friendship.

🐻 Bear cub ❄️ Arctic life 🧭 Curious

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:29

Major Themes – Umka (1969)

Explore the central themes of Umka (1969), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Friendship

An unlikely friendship forms between Umka and a young Chukchi boy, bridging species and cultures. Their exchanges reveal curiosity, kindness, and the ability to learn across differences. This bond offers a lens on trust, adaptation, and the wonder of discovery in a harsh Arctic world.

🧭 Journey

Their journeys across ice and sea become a metaphor for growing up and seeking belonging. The looming separation and the pull of home test their resilience. The narrative uses exploration to question what 'family' and 'home' really mean.

💔 Loss

Relocation and disappearance create a sense of loss that threads through the story as friends separate and change surroundings. Umka's mother keeps him safe while the boy's departure leaves a memory that haunts the snow. The ending, seen in the stars and constellations, offers a way to remember and honor those who are gone.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:29

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Umka Summary

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Umka Summary

Umka Timeline

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Umka Timeline

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