This film is part historical thriller, action film, love story, a greek tragedy, and a comedy wrapped into one 3+ hour experience. (Although if you don't understand Slavic humor, a few of the jokes may land flat) In short, this is a SIMPLY BRILLIANT film. Please note, it's in Russian so you'll need a cut with subtitles unless you can understand Russian (which I thankfully can), but even if not, the genius writing and heartwrenching performances shine through the language barrier. You may laugh but you absolutely WILL cry.
The central character is played deftly by.the beautiful Maria Poezzheva. She is a naive teen girl experiencing the Chernobyl disaster. She is travelling with her older sister when they are separated during the disaster and she only manages to survive with the help of brave Pasha (Yura Borisov) , a Soviet soldier and one of the famed "Liquidators" of Chernobyl. What follows is a love story which takes place amid the world's most dreadful nuclear accident.
Like many films made outside of Hollywood influence, there is no "happily ever after" but the ending will stun you. You will walk away wondering if it is indeed better to love and lose, than never have loved at all. I am failing miserably to capture this excellent film so I will finish by simply stating you MUST see this movie if you are a fan of good filmmaking. I was blown away by the quality and the acting and it truly made me realize how much Hollywood has shyed away from telling good stories and has instead relied on bombastic effects, over the top tropes and archetypes. The Ukrainian filmmaker has excelled in the telling of a good story and distilled so much pain and tragedy involved in the Chernobyl disaster to make this excellent film which WILL make you feel something. Like a rose blooming in the middle of a minefield, love blossoms against the backdrop of nuclear disaster. Bravo!
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