ToyKhtoProyshovKrizVohon (2011) Reviews

• Authentic story from Soviet Ukraine

  e-poluektova2012-01-25

  Ukraine is not famous with its movies but this one has potential to touch many hearts. It's based on a true story but it's not a story of one man. Similar stories happened to many Soviet officers and soldiers after the WWII so it gives you a sense of that epoch. It's adventurous and at the same time romantic, historical and modern and has a touch of Ukrainian authentic culture. Behind intricate plot are existential topics: love and loyalty, friendship and betrayal, religion, nation and language. It's a beautiful combination of mystic scenes, subtle humour, powerful characters and cultural ideas.

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• The greatest Ukrainian film of nowadays

  ivasykus2012-05-05

  Firecrosser - the most awaited film by Ukrainian filmmakers for a long time. I would to say it were really highest-quality film, but it is not. Me and most of spectators of my Motherland are spoiled by Hollywood blockbusters with perfect screenplay and expensive special effects. So everyone waited for something outstanding, especially after widespread advertising campaign of "Firecrosser"... The film is not outstanding. It's even not impressive. But be sure: it is also not bad. Film is as good, as it possible for Ukrainian product. If I rate it objectively, I would put it 7 points. But I remember that it is the first real Ukrainian film. The first try. The picture which gives all of us a hope that our cinematography is not dead and it will arise. So I just can't mark Firecrosser, which became the most important happening in Ukrainian culture of all time of Independence, by point less then 10. It is excellent. And it is just a beginning.

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• Amazing and exciting story from Ukrainian film-makers

  reaver_20062012-02-11

  Just came from the theater! I bought a ticket to this movie only because not was where to sit up to 3 hours before the next film that I planned see. I thought somehow spend the time because frankly, expecting something dull and pathos, as usually happens in Ukrainian and Russian movies... When I got out of the theater, I was proud of Ukrainian cinematography! Frankly, a lot could be done better, but then it would be stereotyped movie. It is amazing and exciting story of love, betrayal, friendship and faith in the future! I was touched by the purity and beauty of the Ukrainian language, live playing of actors and amazing story. With confidence I can say that this is the best Ukrainian movie that I ever saw.

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• promise

  Vincentiu2014-05-27

  a film from Ukraine. not spectacular but beautiful. expression of high ambition , it is a story who remembers more than present. because , like few good films from East is a form of testimony. and the fact who defines it is the courage to use different tools - humor and slices of magic are basic bricks - for a story not credible at whole but interesting in its message. more than a film, it is demonstration of a young cinema school with a long tradition. and exercise to defines it. far to be perfect, it is important step for a different cinema. and that fact is the good point who transforms it in precious travel to affirmation. the meeting between cold past and myths are always risky. in this case it is inspired foundation for a movie with role of promise. because, despite errors, it is encouraging message from Kiev.

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• Brave film, but embarrassingly bad at places.

  LydiaOLydia2012-11-09

  I saw this film as part of a Ukrainian film festival that was attended both by Ukrainians living abroad and non-Ukrainians. While watching the highly touted film I was concerned about how to convey my misgivings to the Ukrainian contingent. I needn't had worried. They were more harsh on it than I would have been. Folks, I don't know who you think you are fooling by giving this movie "10" ratings or even a 7.2 cumulative score. It wont help Ukraine s a country or the Ukrainian industry in any meaningful way to give artificially high scores to bad movies. The plot is nominally interesting -- Soviet-Ukrainian ww2 hero pilot gets shot down and then sent to the lager (gulags) after the war. his attempts to reunite with his true love are thwarted by a superior. the pilot eventually ends up with an American Indian tribe (what?). In practice, the plot is a bit of a jumbled mess and if we're supposed to take it in any way seriously and not just as some allegorical dream sequence or whatever it strains all credulity. a coherent or credible plot however isn't, strictly speaking, essential to a good film. sympathetic or at least well developed characters are. the characters here simply are not. the pilot and his, ahem, "tartar" wife are bland archetypes of goodness and decency. the 'bad guy' superior probably gets the most screen time and while the actors portrayal of him is on one hand good, on the other it's hard to make sense of his motives or what. and then there's the portrayal of native North Americans (Indians). It's a stereotypically crude, geographically and historically ignorant hack job, to put it mildly. The "half Indian" on the cover/poster wears a headdress that wouldn't be seen within 2000 miles of wherever it was (Pacific Northwest-ish--though again, the geography here is very suspect) he supposedly was. The "Chief", while doing a competent job given who he is and the hackneyed dialogue, is still obviously some white guy with a Minnesota or Chicago accent. The "native" music is good and well exploits the similarities between some Ukrainian "wild" music and similar American Indian wails and music. Some of the editing is bold. And I wish I could give more points for boldness, but boldness doesn't make a movie - results do. And, ultimately, this is an embarrassing mess that fails to tell a plausible, coherent, or entertaining story either historically, geographically, or inter-personally.

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