Klondike

Unbelievable that 'experts' give this movie a high rating, must be tremendisly biast by what's going on in Ukraine these days. Literaly everything is wrong with this movie, there is no real story line and the remains of what was a start of a story line is so predictable that it made me nauseous, filming is cheap and doubtful quality - the only parts worth while watching are the actual cuts from news items of the crashed planes, tanks and planes only are suggested by sound - and acting is terrible, I mean if this is a good representation of the Ukraine people this must be the most depressive country in the world, what a waste of time.

.... so intensely in this film of the situation in 2014 in Donbas region. This family does not want to be part of the war but is forced to deal with the situation of factions in their small town, on their farm. The leads are all marvelous in their roles; the screenwriting, direction, cinematography, all outstanding. I saw it just today at the Alameda International Film Festival and someone said -- "can all of our political leaders be made to watch this?" The dedication was to the women of Ukraine and I definitely feel as if this was a women's war film-- contrasting with another film made also in 2022 where there were almost no women to be found.

Saw this back at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival When I first heard about this at Sundance, I didn't know what to think about it as I have never seen a movie from Ukraine before and this was a weird synopsis. However, after viewing it, it's very clear that Maryna Er Gorbach has a great future of making possible masterpieces of Ukraine cinema. Gorbach offers such an brutal look of the political situation between Ukraine and Russia through the lens of a couple struggling to go on with their days. Throughout the movie, there are many incredible long but realistic takes of characters walking around and speaking which really helped to add the realism and brutal nature of what the characters were facing. All performances were amazing and the characters felt so real as if you are really witnessing them going through this troubles. The execution is perfectly made as it shows that Gorbach really cares about her craft. Beautiful sound designs and there were some moments that made me feel really uneasy but in a good way. The feeling of uneasy because it was quite brutal and hard to stomach at times. Pacing did drag a little but it wasn't something that ruined my entire experience with this movie. Rating: A-

You know what's going to happen here yet you watch it for the strong character that leads Klondike with her family who are suddenly finding it difficult to exist. There's levity in the proceedings that make you really wonder what is all this for. With excellent performances and haunting visuals, Klondike kept me hooked and made me morose at the same time. The visuals are so stunning you almost believe you are at the Ukraine-Russia border. The worse part is that you dear for your life too. Interestingly, at the IFFK this year all I have seen so far are tragedies. (Watched at the 2022 International Film Festival of Kerala in Trivandrum.)