Goluboi Vagon. The Blue Railway Car, with Krokodil Gena, Cheburashka, a small furry creature "unknown to science," and the Starushka Shapoklyak (Old Lady Shapoklyak), a somewhat severe type, but plucky and clearly a bonafied member of the trio. At the outset, Gena and his little friend, Cheburashka, are sitting on a railroad car, feet dangling over the end of the roof. Starushka Shapoklyak asks to join them, sits down alongside, opening her purse, from which she pulls out a small Russian accordion--handing it to Gena, with the words, Igrai Krokodil--Play, Krokodil--the musical theme already running in the background since the beginning of the film, but now we hear the notes of the garmoshka as Gena joins in.
And somehow it all makes sense--these odd characters, seated together on the roof of a railroad car, power poles passing in the background as they clack along through the Russian countryside. The brotherhood of man in a Soviet vision from childhood--where the warmth of the song, and the bonhomie of the three companions augurs a future made up entirely of of goodwill...
Not simplyy bonhomie, though. There's also a particularly Russian kind of reverie throughout, even on the face of Starushka Shapoklyak--and of course on Gena's. too...
