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The story of a Ukrainian family living on the Russian-Ukrainian border during the 2014 invasion of Donbass. Pregnant Irka refuses to leave her home even when the village is occupied by the forces. Soon she and her husband find themselves at the center of an international air disaster.
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Presented at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2022, Klondike quickly received a worldwide following. Won the World Cinema Dramatic Competition for Director In this case, this 5th feature film by Marina Er Gorbach won 2 prizes at the Berlin Film Festival, before receiving more than 30 nominations at international festivals. And if the best foreign film Oscar candidate from Ukraine leaves no one indifferent, it is not by chance.
With its sad present-day plot and inspired by a real-life story, the film relies on an aesthetic that is recognizable among a thousand and that is enough to keep us entertained for hours after viewing. Here we are immersed in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, a disputed territory at the outbreak of the Donbas war, with a couple whose fate as parents-to-be is upended by the arrival of Russian troops.
Although threatening tensions are at an all-time high in the village, it culminated in the downing of flight MH17. The wreckage highlights the grief and trauma of the destructive reality of combat.
Addressing the raging conflict in Ukraine and reminding us of the impact of war on all scales, Klondike also shines a spotlight on the talent of its director. Clocking in at 1 hour and 30 minutes, Marina Er Gorbach really manages to cast her stark gaze on a terrifying reality with sublime photography and dizzying and deeply disturbing staging.
Shockingly, the actors at the top of the bill also turn in performances that are remarkable to say the least. Although Oksana Cherkashina appears in the guise of Irika, this mother who does not want to run away during the conflict, Sergi Shadrin and Oleg Shcherbina, who play Irika’s companion and brother, also do wonders as performances. All with subtle powers. A very great trio in the service of a film that is just as important.
Klondike is available exclusively on FILMO starting April 13.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
