Movie reviews

UKRAINA! FILM FESTIVAL ONLINE

CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN ANIMATION

ІСТОРІЯ УКРАЇНИ ЗА 5 ХВИЛИН (UKRAINE'S HISTORY IN 5 MINUTES)

Watchable. A rapped music video listing the main events in the history of Ukraine, most of which are unknown to outsiders and mentioned by name only. Animation-wise, historical figures appear one by one and look like paper cut-outs. The whole thing refreshes your knowledge where existent but is too fast to learn anything new. The music is mediocre.

ПЕРЕВТІЛЕННЯ (METAMORPHOSIS)

Watchable. Kafka's adaptation where the man changes not into a cockroach but into a tick and the tale is presented from his family's point of view, not his own. The animation's black-grey-white with spots of red. Pretty comprehensible apart from the final scene which becomes a guesswork as to what's happened.

ПОКИ НЕ СТАНЕ ЧОРНИМ (UNTIL IT TURNS BLACK)

Watchable. Original since it's in Japanese.The town consisting of drawings mixed with objects looks great but the main character doll without a face is awkward, even with the lovely transparent umbrella. It looks like a school etude showcasing a variety of animation styles which, to an ordinary viewer, are overwhelming in such a short film (6'23").

ELOHIM – METAMORPHINE

Watchable. Pleasant pop music and video. Attractive, especially the song, with matching visuals. But this animation doesn't stand out.

ПЕТРІВКА-РЕКВІЄМ (PETRIVKA-REQUIEM)

Watchable. Fascinating electro music and ingenious combinations of animation techniques with stories, especially the one stylised for an 80s computer game. Lacks cohesion though. Too many tales within 5'16".

СУРОГАТ (THE SURROGATE)

Watchable. All characters look ugly, even the dog. The story's of a crime which is fascinating, even if the woman's reaction is inexplicable.

ПУПОВИНА (THE CORD)

Recommended. A powerful, even shocking story of a bond between a mother and a child which first limits the mother and next, the same way, ruins her son's life. Lovely animation doesn't make it any less harrowing. Heart-breakingly real.

КОХАННЯ (DEEP LOVE)

Watchable. A creative representation of the transformation of post-Soviet Ukraine into an independent state. Top-notch soundtrack. Yet, several tropes are incomprehensible to an outsider. Just 13'58" long but with a post-credit.