From October 25 to November 2, the 54th Molodist International Film Festival is taking place in Kyiv, where you can see Ukrainian premieres and the most interesting world releases.
“Love that never fades”
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One of the most high-profile films of the year by the master of Scandinavian cinema, Glinur Paulmason, will be shown at the Molodist festival as part of the Scandinavian Panorama. The film begins with a scene where a house is being demolished – a metaphor for what is happening in the lives of Magnus and Anna, who, having given birth to three children, are going through a divorce. Anna is an artist who does everything she can to attract the world's attention to herself, while simultaneously taking care of the farm and children. Magnus is a fisherman who finds it difficult to come to terms with the divorce. The children want to rekindle their parents' love, but they are too busy playing and having fun. The film depicts the sweet sadness of a faded love and shared memories against the backdrop of picturesque Icelandic nature. “The Love That Never Fades” was nominated by Iceland for the Oscar in the “Best International Film” section and was presented at the Cannes Film Festival.
“Our house is on fire”
The main event of “Molodist” is the international competition, which this year brought together 12 full-length films. One of them is the Ukrainian film “Our Home on Fire” directed by Olesya Biletska, the world premiere of which will take place at the festival on October 29. This is a sensual story about love, war and difficult life choices. At the center of the plot is a young singer Sofia (Anastasia Pustovit), who is successfully developing an international career in Los Angeles. Her vacation to her native Kyiv coincides with the beginning of the Great War and a meeting with her ex-boyfriend Max (Lyubomyr Valivots), for whom her feelings flare up again. Now she is forced to choose between love and safety, home and career.
“Just a coincidence”
“Just a Chance” is a film by opposition Iranian director Jafar Panaghi that premiered in the main program of the Cannes Film Festival and won the Palme d'Or. It is the story of a mechanic named Vahid who accidentally meets a man named Egbal, who reminds him of a former prison executioner. The protagonist must decide how far he is willing to go to take revenge on the person who ruined his life. In his dramatic thriller, Panaghi reflects on the components of truth and freedom and how to achieve them in an imperfect world – through mercy or still through retribution?
“Silent Friend”
Hungarian director Ildiko Enyedi, known for her intellectual and poetic cinema, presented the film “The Silent Friend” at this year's Venice Film Festival, starring Léa Seydoux, Tony Leung and Luna Wedler. The plot unfolds around a century-old ginkgo tree in the botanical garden in Marburg, Germany, in different times – 1908, 1972 and 2020. “The Silent Friend” explores the subtle connections between man and his environment. The film won the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Cinematographers) Prize, and Swiss Luna Wedler received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actress.
“Continental '25”
A classic film of the “Romanian New Wave” by Radu Jude, which premiered in the main competition at the Berlinale and for which the director received the “Silver Bear”. The film explores guilt as a social phenomenon using the example of the main character Orsoa, who works as a bailiff. She is assigned to evict a homeless man from an old building, as construction of a luxury hotel is to begin on the site in the near future. The man asks for a half-hour meeting and commits suicide. Tormented by feelings of guilt, Orsoa cancels a long-planned vacation with her family and seeks salvation in conversations with various people. But neither her husband, nor her best friend, nor the priest can solve the woman's moral dilemma.
“Tired”
“The Tired” is another world premiere and directorial debut by Ukrainian cinematographer Yuriy Dunay, who is currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The film tells the story of Lyuba and Andriy, war veterans who bear its visible and invisible scars and try to adapt to a peaceful life. Together they go through a long journey to recovery and find solace and support in each other. The main roles are played by Valeria Khodos, Dmytro Sova, and Irma Vitovska.
“Our craziest days”
In the out-of-competition program “Youth-Youth”, a new generation of filmmakers shares a fresh perspective on the themes of growing up, relationships, and finding oneself. The drama “Our Wildest Days” is the feature-length debut of Greek director Vasilis Kekatos. It is the story of young Chloe, who, having lost her home, is forced to leave Athens and go to the other side of the country to live with her older sister. Along the way, she meets a group of young people who travel around Greece in a camper van and help people on the verge of poverty. The girl is fascinated by the ideals and unconventional lifestyle of the group and joins them. She learns what it is like to care for others and have a chosen family. She falls in love, is disappointed, experiences fear, danger, and freedom – and eventually finds her way to herself and true adulthood.