The popularity of American slashers reached the Ukrainian cinema. Moreover, I say this more from the positive side than from the one where presumably all the paintings of this direction will end in fiasco.
To be honest, Lyubomir Levitsky’s film did not disappoint. "Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors" look quite modern and technically competently removed.
The plot, unlike most Hollywood analogues, is not used and carries a Ukrainian flavor. Molfars, Zgards, Ukrainian Carpathians. The scenery in the film is particularly good. Not to say that you are worried about the characters, but after 20 minutes of watching you wonder which of them in the final will be the main antagonist. And for many viewers, the finale will be a frank surprise.
On the negative side, I note the cliche of many murder scenes. As I watched it, I felt like I had seen it all many times. And the characters try to be so similar to American prototypes that sometimes you begin to frankly “swarm”.
The cast is a fusion of experience and youth. Of the actors who played students, Dmitry Stupka and Vladislav Nikityuk are best known, but the film also features castes that have long been on the lips of the Ukrainian audience. For example, Olga Freimut or Olga Sumy.
As a result, the film has both qualitative excerpts and those that fall out of the general narrative. But with all this, the film is really high-quality, and therefore I definitely recommend watching.
7 out of 10
The fifth directorial work of the Ukrainian-Hollywood director Lyubomir Levitsky. He is the creator of “Selfipathy”, he is also responsible for “Stalnya”.
A mystical story based on Carpathian legends about molfars and evil mountain spirits, starring Dmitry Stupka.
Living Levitsky on American soil left a noticeable imprint on his work. Just as in “Selfipathy”, the seeds of American culture were sown in fertile Ukrainian black soil and noblely flavored with local acting humus. The role of a typical American “callege” was epically played by the Fedkovich Chernivtsi National University (native to the director), and their Grand Canyon wept over the picturesque panoramas of their native Carpathians.
The fruits of the Michurin approach, in general, turned out to be edible. American cameraman Mark Eberley made a very high-quality glossy picture, from which the Ukrainian team of editors glued together a dynamic and pleasing video sequence. In such a dress is not ashamed to walk the ribbon on the red carpet of a festival. With its gloss, it will not eclipse the recognized celebrities, but also a gold-toothed milkmaid from Khatsapetovka will not seem.
“Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors” is an infrequent Ukrainian case when the viewer is able to catch a more or less integral plot and track its development. The scenario can hardly be called perfect - the number of Hollywood stamps is still striking, and purely American characters look like foreign bodies against the background of local locations.
Dmitry Stupka tries to maintain the reputation of his surname, so brings the film the maximum possible drama. Towards the end, he walks along a thin line of replay and a couple of times he still transgresses it. Pavel Li - even with "Stolny" standard comedian in the acting troupe Levitsky, around his hero unfolds the main humor of the tape. He plays the role of a jester correctly, does not turn the action into a clown. The rest of the actors, as they say, did not play on the assessment. Unless we celebrate girls for their looks.
“Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors” is a good attempt to master the genre. Unlike the curved “Sinevir”, with a similar theme and the same year of release, the work gives the viewer hope for the future of Ukrainian feature films.
If we talk about the director as a whole, the work of Lyubomir Levitsky is an international marriage between an American and a Ukrainian. At first, their mesalliance catches the eye, but in the process of synergy, they erase each other sharp corners and instead of a fragmented puzzle, they fold into a single canvas, perfectly complementing each other. She learns external gloss, and he is imbued with national soul.
Therefore, we expect that in the subsequent works of Levitsky against the background of a glossy high-quality picture, Americanized types will become more like local residents and will become closer to the Ukrainian viewer.
"Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors" receive
The Carpathian legend of molfarah, sex, marijuana and demons is almost over a million U.
... Nine molfars with spells drove demons that destroyed people into the Book of Shadows, sealed with Zgard keys, and cut them into their hearts. But one demon remained in the wild – for decades he killed molfars to snatch their hearts right from them, there was only one key left – and... dark forces will flood the earth. On this Carpathian legend and built a film directed by Lyubomir Levitsky.
Student botanist Vanya named Volanchik (Dmitry Stupka) has a phenomenal memory and dries with love for the beautiful Angela (Alena Musienko, debut). But she has a boyfriend, an athlete Arthur (Bogdan Yusipchuk, “Chapai Passion”) – a lover of having sex in the dorm room with her girlfriends (the beginning of the process will show). Angela will be reported, and the couple will start a showdown. And then our nerd, who has already lost all hope, will intervene, and therefore the evening is spent under porn (they will show the beginning of this process, and in the most interesting place it will be interrupted by Olga Sumy, who plays Volan’s mother).
To stand up for the girl Vanka was suggested by a newcomer from their university group - Zakhar (Vladislav Nikityuk), who came to study from Poland (and in general the action takes place at Chernivtsi University, which, by the way, was finished by the director Lubomir - he is a historian-archaeologist). Zakhar immediately coolly put himself in the area - appeared at the wheelbarrow, marijuana and cold weapons. He put it in Volan's hands, they say, go hit the girl. The showdown was transferred to the audience: the pretty face of Vanya and the closet with all sorts of historical things were damaged, among which was ... the ninth Zgarda.
Somehow miraculously, she penetrated into the very heart of Volan, and a magical sign appeared on his body. The same goes for six of his classmates. A blind university professor who kept part of the Book of Shadows (the second half was at Volanchik’s house – his firefighter father died saving the library from the fire, and for some reason the son was given the remains of the folio), reveals to them a terrible secret – now they are labeled, a demon goes after them to snatch their hearts until he finds the Zgarda. Only a molfar living in the Carpathians can help them.
And then the audience will witness bright action scenes (not for nothing the picture was shot by the American cameraman Mark Eberley, who worked on “Twilight”) – the chase of students for a molfar through the Carpathian forests, when he soars over the pines, the deadly battle of Volanchik with a demon. It also looks spectacular how this spirit-two-header (can be in two bodies at the same time) with a terrible creak, sweeping away everything around - trees, walls, climbed up to the victim and penetrated into the bodies of people.
After the Twilight finish, God himself ordered to fill a mystical niche, at least on a national level. But it was wider. When you watch the film, you don’t see the nationality of the director. “Shadows...” looks like a strong youth horror movie from Hollywood. Mysticism, high-quality computer graphics and modern humor (“we’re in full ass, and the candle in your hands – except for hemorrhoids”, “if I die, then bury me in a coffin from Louis Vuitton”) – all present in the package. Thanks to the short replicas of the characters and the dynamic musical background, the film does not look long, although it takes almost two hours. But in some places, when the molfar moralizes about the inevitability of death, the fight against demons and the sins of the younger generation, and the evil spirit in the meantime sends students to the next world, I want him to shout: “In short, Sklifosovsky!”
7 out of 10
Every year in the world about 20 thousand tapes are removed. This is much more than cinemas can show. In second place on these indicators are the States, of course, after India. About 5 years ago, Nigeria, for example, produced 900 films a year. But Ukraine is becoming a festival fashion. Here you and “Youth” at hand, and Odessa international. Some of our tapes are also included in Class A festivals. However, many of the paintings that are regulated at these events, ordinary Ukrainians do not have the opportunity to see. The question is "why?" Perhaps the audience is just desperate in the domestic cinema? Thinks he just doesn't exist? After all, if the cities are not glued with posters and calls “Ida to watch ours!”, this does not mean that this “our” does not exist. Maybe we're just looking bad.
How many mummified reels earned themselves bedsores, frozen in the dark and long-forgotten archives of domestic film studios, bearing the proud title of Ukrainian. And here it is. Fresh meat was thrown at us, not once that autumn. It's been waiting for years. Millions were waiting. 46.
It is said that Ukrainian cinema has long since died. About the same time as Parajanov. Such sentiments reign in society, which still remembers the phrase “Ukrainian film”. Sometimes, when mentioning this phenomenon, you can catch a person’s gaze, which usually has a face at a wake. But some experts say: “our movie will appear as soon as we find the hero – our national one.” Actually, the young director Lubomir Levitsky, this search and completed. On November 14, the pulse of Ukrainian cinema was felt. Resuscitation is postponed.
Levitsky presented his find - an interpretation of the ancient Hutsul legend about the lost Zgarta (religious decoration), the Book of Shadows and about the demons imprisoned in it. And bravely they fought in the distant 1810 Carpathian molfars. Such characters can be found in the youth mystical thriller Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors. Imagine an ordinary university in the United States, a group of students who never came together in their lives, if not for some precedent that united a diverse team. Botan (Dmitry Stupka) and his “Petrosyan” comrade (Pasha Lee), “the first woman in the village” and her former boyfriend-athlete with a new passion in the form of a blonde not too overloaded with intelligence, a reclusive informal and, of course, where without the mysterious “cool guy”.
But despite the clearly American languish, suddenly (and pleasantly) they all speak Ukrainian. Meet our heroes who encountered the magical side of the Carpathian forests before Transylvania. They are labeled souls hunted by a mysterious demon. A long time ago, he broke free when all evil was already imprisoned in a magical book. So let’s see how strong modern youth, who will survive, and who will be less lucky.
It is worth noting that the picture came out quite appetizing and delicious: bright characters, Carpathians, Chernivtsi and panoramas. And instead of an ordinary university in New York or California, our students from the alma mater of the director himself are from Chernivtsi University. Plus a bonus for the viewer – Olga Sumy, Yuri Rosstalny, Valery Legin and other famous Ukrainian actors.
The plot of this genre of films will always be predictable. The viewer here is already waiting not for an unexpected ending, but watches how the heroes will manage to pull their ass out of the next twist. And the events all unfold against the background of “Sagov” forest landscapes (operator Mark Eberley is known for his work on “Twilight”, “Heavenly Furious”, etc.) and product placement in each frame (thanks Samsung, Ayrault, etc.).
I also amused the makeup of a demon in human form, looking at the face of which, involuntarily waiting for Buffy with an aspen stake for entourage. The picture, lasting 2 hours, does not burden with static frames: everything and everything moves. But with the final scenes is not so fun. The tightened stop frames and “wiring” of the camera look too contrasting with the preliminary dynamism.
However, Lyubomir Levitsky did not just “bread and spectacles”, but also seasoned unobtrusively raised themes of love, friendship, courage and, which is very relevant now all over the world, the problem of ecology. I note that the only irritant character was the beauty herself, performed by Alena Musienko. Well, what thriller, action, action movie, (yes, anything!), can do without the love and passion of the main characters. But, as they say, “women on the deck do not take – unfortunately”, and here – interferes every minute, and terribly underplay to the work of colleagues. Who knew that Pasha Lee still did not become exhausted in Levitsky’s first painting “Stolnya”, and maybe over his head to jump.
The budget of the tape was collected from various private companies and amounted to $877,000, the preparation took 2 years, and the release was postponed three times. But this did not prevent the author to please his compatriots with a qualitatively shot Ukrainian genre film, released after the September premiere of the criminal comedy Lombard by the same author. It was a typical American horror game, but the difference is only one. He is Ukrainian: with our actors, voice acting (yes, the tape was duplicated in Ukrainian on top of the original sound in the best traditions of Hollywood) and the soundtrack of the group “THE HARDKISS” (and for the selection of musical accompaniment, a bow to the sound engineering team of Matienko and Danyuk). By the way, it turned out no worse than Western analogue cinema.
6 out of 10
Since the premiere of the Ukrainian mystical thriller Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors in cinemas, I have been burning with a great desire to see this creation firsthand. There was a lot of noise and conversation around this picture, but the circumstances were such that I saw it almost two years after the premiere. I'm glad I didn't spend money on a movie.
This was only the third full-length painting by Lubomir Levitsky. His previous work (Shtolnya and Lombard) was a failure, although popular actors and musicians were involved in the shooting. “Shadows of the forgotten ancestors” could become a “gold mine”, but in my subjective opinion, it did not become one.
The film left after watching a lot of mixed impressions. Yes, this picture is definitely a new step in Ukrainian cinema. But to say that this is a step up, I would not be in a hurry.
The plot is very fresh and original for our cinema, especially against the background of the overwhelming amount of “production slag” that the viewer has to endure over the past two decades: an ordinary Ukrainian student becomes the cause of the disappearance of the magical “Zgarda” which is the hallmark of the so-called “Book of Shadows”, in which Carpathian spirits were imprisoned by molfars in 1810. Soon after, marks appear on his body and the bodies of his friends - the "demon" goes hunting for them in order to get the "Zgarda" and establish domination over humanity. Quite entertaining, isn't it? But the beautiful idea was not destined to be embodied in something absolutely stunning, in something that could have caused quite a furor if the viewer had not seen a whole pack of similar made in USA.
We often heard that “our” cinema is significantly inferior to the European one, and it is possible not to talk about American cinema at all. However, Lyubomir Levitsky tried very hard. Yes, I tried so that not only pulled the film to the level of Hollywood films, but also made it impossible to saturate with American templates. "Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors" into something completely un-Ukrainian, overly artificial. Negative characters, with the exception of a demon in human form, failed completely. The characters of Arthur and Liana evoked eerie feelings - sometimes I really wanted them to die in the film first and as soon as possible: an empty-headed gopnik who lives only by animal instincts, and TP (pardon me for the jargon) for whom, it seems, sometimes even the life of her own mother will cost nothing if she gets on the way to her goal. I may be wrong, but I don’t think a character should have that kind of craving. This is especially strange for me, because the person I am absolutely peaceful and not aggressive - not prone to cruelty. What can happen in the head of a person prone to aggression?
In addition, there is something good to say. The main idea, after all, was transferred to “5+”. “Shadows of the forgotten ancestors” really make you think about how we live and what we turn into.
For me, Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors is an example of how the pursuit of Western film standards is not for us or our culture. All this is too artificial and not real, not able to catch the viewer who prefers domestic cinema, and the box office – a fact, proof or convincing argument confirming my words – call it what you want. Perhaps that’s why I forgot about this film for two years, that it came from the mouth of a film lover, and it is destined to dust on the shelf of Ukrainian cinema, and in the memory cells of the audience who once watched it.
4 out of 10
"Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors" - what a promising title, and even from the Ukrainian director!
I started watching the movie without previewing the trailer, and that was my mistake. If I had seen the trailer, I probably wouldn’t have seen the movie.
Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors is disappointing from the start with its silly scenes. You feel like you’re watching American Pie. But you think: "Don't pay attention, keep looking!"
The life of ordinary students is a separate conversation. At every corner - templates, there is not even a hint of naturalness, but in vain!
I want to talk about shooting in the mountains. The Carpathians are the pride of Ukraine. It also feels like the footage was cut from Twilight. Also causes a grin and “American” look woodcutter.
The only thing that pleased the film is the molfars! They just looked good.
Conclusion. The idea is ruined! The film did not become special, I think that foreigners would have watched it, they would not have thought that the film was Ukrainian! After all, there are no natural scenes from people’s lives, no highlights of the Carpathian mountains, no Ukrainian folklore, that is, nothing that would give the film recognition. There's nothing Ukrainian about it.
The film interested long before the release. Initially, I saw the name of a friend in the cast, besides, it became quite interesting what will please the domestic film industry. The name did not immediately inspire confidence. I really like the work of Kotsyubinsky, and since they decided to paraphrase the name, they had to do something similar that would touch the soul. I knew it was unlikely, but what I saw in the movie still surprised me. But let's be clear.
The main characters and environment. Terrible, meaningless, atypical heroes for our country. If the grandfathers – molfars somehow looked, created an atmosphere of fabulousness, then these students almost in evening dresses in pairs were not at all in the topic. Sex in the toilet at recess, smoking marijuana, talking about groupies and so on caused only disgust at what was happening on the screen and bewilderment. And the episode with the masturbation of the main character, which was probably inserted into the plot in order to cause laughter, again caused only disgust and almost interrupted the desire to look further. Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to create an image of a typical nerd student – an onanist, but even this they could not make believable. I wanted to see more Ukrainian realities, typical Ukrainian students, but it turned out that we saw typical American heroes, American college, etc. There are many inconsistencies, but let’s move on.
Actors. Well, there's no need to criticize too much. The boys played pretty well for their age. Girls are worse. But the heroines did not get the best. The older generation does not have any complaints either. Heroes were not at their worst.
Plot. Again, very disappointing. Our typical American heroes, completely unsuitable for each other, due to sad circumstances, rallied and solve their problems, dying one by one. The ending is banal - as always, love saves everyone. And a girl who was with a short-sighted athlete begins to date a nerd - a loser. Movies with such stories can be counted well a lot. So the creators of the film did not have to come up with a new one, it was enough to redo everything in the Ukrainian way. It is worth noting that “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” by Kotsyubinsky have a similar plot with another famous work. But the Ukrainian spirit is present in every line of this work, which makes it a masterpiece, no matter what. But even then, the filmmakers did not succeed.
Registration. Here we will include camera, sound engineering work, etc. In the film, all the characters communicate in Ukrainian, but it is so foreign that you feel like watching an American film with our voiceover. Operator work also does not create a pleasant impression. The video quality is good, the effects are good. But it's the camera, not the person who filmed it. Even on magnets on the refrigerator, the nature of the Carpathians is shown more beautiful and brighter than in this film.
I can write a lot more about what caused my indignation, but perhaps it is worth summing up. You can watch the film, but the spirit of Ukrainian cinema is not in it. If you want to enjoy a good film, watch something else, and leave this film in case you want to be disappointed in Ukrainian cinema.
3 out of 10
No one can argue with the fact that Ukrainian cinema needs a high-quality product that could compete with both Hollywood and Russian projects. And, sometimes, we are presented with really good films like “The One Who Passed Through the Fire” and “Guide”, which boast not only a strong technical side, but also a thoughtful plot, played by the best actors of modern Ukraine. However, more or less remarkable films of Ukrainian production belong to the historical genre, which simply is not able to attract a million audience to cinemas, which automatically affects the box office. And if it were not for the support of the state, then such projects would most likely never see the light of day. But Ukraine does not live by one story. Young enthusiasts, nurtured by watching Hollywood movies, somehow unimaginable method obtained quite solid funding and presented us with quite resonant horrors called “Stolnya” and “Synevyr”. Only in fact, these projects turned out to be a soap bubble, painted in bright colors thanks to a noisy advertising campaign and successfully failed at the box office. But the creators of Shtolny, Lubomir Levitsky, decided that his imaginary talent is exactly what Ukrainian cinema needs and in 2013 he shot his next empty project called Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, whose name became a kind of creative spit in the immortal genius of Sergei Parajanov.
So, the plot, to which the same Levitsky had a hand, is based on ancient Carpathian legends about good wizards-molfars who have supernatural abilities and can be both healers and warriors in one person. The main opponents of molfars were once good forest spirits, turned by human malice into demons. However, the wizards still managed to lock most of the demons in the Book of Shadows, sealed with Zgard medallions for many years. Only the molfars did not expect that the last remaining evil spirit was so strong that they could not stop him. A scour through the Carpathians in search of zgards, the demon systematically destroys all wizards, but he never manages to find the last key, which in our time quite randomly falls into the hands of an ordinary student Ivan (Dmitry Stupka). So, together with his friends, the young man will not only save his lives from the all-powerful demon, but also save the whole world from the forces of evil, which are in prolonged oblivion.
Lyubomyr Levitsky in all interviews positions himself as a great patriot of his country, who revives Ukrainian cinema, filling it with authentic details that compete with Western stereotypes. Honestly, I have already forgotten about the squalor of his “Stolny” of 2006 and with high hopes expected to see the creative growth of the director in “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”. This fantasy horror would be on everyone’s lips at one time. Advertising for the film was everywhere - from television to radio, and the first reviews of the audience inspired serious optimism. But when watching the trailer of the tape, I suspected something was wrong: the movie under consideration is too much like Hollywood, the plot is too artificially developed, and the main characters are cardboard stereotypes, imitating their American counterparts facelessly. And unfortunately, or fortunately, the trailer turned out to be really believable. Lyubomyr Levitsky, of course, was able to fool some viewers with the prefix Ukrainian cinema, but most adequate people missed the “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” out of the spotlight, and if they got acquainted with them, as I did, then they simply cannot positively assess the project.
If you expected to see the Ukrainian spirit in the film, there will be no limit to your disappointment. After a more or less authentic beginning, in which we see the confrontation of the molfar and the demon in the distant past, the director sends us to the most ordinary post-Soviet institution, which painfully resembles the college where Indiana Jones worked. Next, we get acquainted with a couple of the main characters in the person of Vanya and his friend Vova (Levitsky’s longtime associate in Shtoln, Pavel Li). And when they reveal their images, they just start to vomit - these are two classic losers. And the first is an excellent student, and the second is a merry man and a jerk. Guys dream of becoming cool and have a sexual attraction to the most beautiful girls flow. Of course, Ivan falls for the chicest student, who traditionally has a short-sighted boyfriend-athlete. The program also contains a mandatory betrayal in order to reveal the romantic line in all the templates of Hollywood. I think it is not necessary to explain in detail that, according to Levitsky, in each institute, only girls of super-models with a minimum of emotions on their faces and a complete lack of charisma, a couple of losers and a few athletes study. There are no ordinary people that we meet every day on the street in this movie, because this is Levitsky! There were few cardboard characters to him. He uses one of the most popular techniques of modern cinema, slowing down or slow-mo in scenes with eating a bar, mixes his audience with masturbation, and in all incomprehensible situations copies standard Hollywood phrases, which, naturally, communicate ordinary students of Ukrainian institutions. And I almost forgot where do you think poor Ukrainian students and their parents live? The correct answer: in the newfangled cottage towns!
Every minute of watching this movie is a murder of your time. If the events of the picture developed sluggishly, and there were no girls of model appearance in the frame, then “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” could be safely turned off in the first minutes of viewing. It does not save the quality of the project and the shift of action from the city to the Carpathians. Did you think that in the woods we are waiting for a more extraordinary spectacle? I'll disappoint you again. Levitsky even unparalleled Ukrainian nature showed how faceless gray mass, although I cannot but admit that it becomes less painful to observe the stupidity of cardboard characters in such an environment. Well, the most memorable moments of the second half of the film are the disgusting special effects and old grandfather-molfar, whose appearance completely repeats the first meeting of Luke Skywalker with Master Yoda in the fifth episode of Star Wars. And if someone says that the director quotes a classic, it would be wrong. He just can’t come up with anything original.
“Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” does not lift Ukrainian cinema from its knees, but is another project that drives another nail into its closing coffin. And I am very sorry that Lyubomir Levitsky speculates on patriotism and Ukrainian culture, not recognizing the fact that he has absolutely nothing to do in cinema. I can advise Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors only to those viewers who want to know what is happening in Ukrainian horror. Watching Levitsky’s film for fun is not possible.
With the release of each new Ukrainian film, there is hope that all is not lost, that for mere pennies that are invested in domestic cinema still manage to produce a quality film. This was expected from the first Ukrainian horror “Stolnya”, and from the first Ukrainian 3D “Synevyr”, and from the very advertised “Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors”.
Did the hopes of fans of Ukrainian cinema, who believe in the revival of high-quality cinema style of the Odessa Film Studio, come true?
The annotation for the film inspired the belief that the film will show the ancient beliefs of the Ukrainian Hutsuls, traditions, customs and rituals that Western Ukraine is so rich in. The fact that this is happening in the Carpathians makes you interested in this film. Therefore, the film I personally was looking forward to. Of course, Hollywood special effects should not be expected, but I wanted to see an interesting story about Carpathian traditions.
My expectations were shattered from the beginning of the film. You can even put up with an incredibly long history, but the fact that a Western Ukrainian university is presented in the manner of some American higher school for rich children is too much. Unless the filmmakers wanted to send the film to international rental... Haha.
I would like to pay special attention to stupid, vulgar and completely inappropriate jokes that abound in the cinema. Heroes do not disdain them in the most serious scenes, which turns the film into a kind of thrashing picture for TV. From this, the film begins to sound like “American Pie”, and not a serious horror film. In addition, the talentless work of the actors, reminiscent of the performance of a school acting group at a concert with the director and causes a simple grin. Invited to a cameo role Olga Sumy not only did not pull the film, but created the image of some strange woman, not quite normal with her son.
The main antagonist is not almost terrible, but rather miserable and dull. The so-called "antagonist" was either promoted to the film by an influential father or no one else was "talented." In short, the main negative character spoiled an already poor script. If you generalize acting work, it causes absolutely no emotions: no love, no longing, no pity, no disgust, no sympathy. They are completely empty and incompetent.
Summing up, I would like to say that the film is more like a second-rate American film about American evil spirits than a film about the traditions and rich culture of Ukraine. It seems that the creators cared more about how to fill their wallets than to create a narrative about Ukrainian horror stories, which are available in plenty. This is absolutely not scary, stupid and meaningless movie with vulgarity and open American pathos. Time for viewing was wasted, well, at least in the movie he did not go.
And let's remember the Soviet "VIY", which even now some moments makes the underbelly shake
No, with this attitude to cinema, it is most likely Agony.
4 out of 10
After the "megacool" Ukrainian horror "Shtolnya", filmed in a very distant 2006, Lyubomyr Levitsky decided to shine his talent again and give birth to another "blockbester". After watching the American product, Lubomyr for some reason decided to create something identical, something unrealistically similar, but in Ukraine, or rather in the beautiful city of Chernivtsi and the green Carpathians. The director’s move is not clear to me at all. I felt like I was watching a cheap American horror movie on a Ukrainian soundtrack and with some young Ukrainian actors.
"Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors" is a set of ordinary template scenes and components, such as: two bosom friends, uni, studentship, weed, someone jerks off, he loves her, but she is with another, with a stronger boy, with a karoch athlete. Out of nowhere, but there was some terrible secret, a group of young people on an SUV go to the woods, but there is already everything inclined. Oh, well, a gas station with a weird guy, without that. The plot is generally uninteresting, forget about the intrigue, because she even first hits her head into a concrete wall, bleeds and dies.
The main cast of actors was terrible. Except that Dmitry Stupka and Pavel Lee more or less looked in this film. All the rest can be christened one word - "a poor gathering or a gathering of the poor." Why even make a movie like that? Yes, for this almost a million bucks you could create a very good, simple, but interesting drama, or finally some melodrama. In my opinion, making good horror movies is a lot harder than making a movie about love or something. If this director's first job was simply disgusting, then this one is no better.
And the main mistake of Kagbe is that there were no fresh ideas, there was no fresh directorial look. This creation can be called a remake of the entire genre of “horrors”. I know it's hard to imagine, but still try. Perhaps all my accusations revolve around the same questions I have raised: Where is the originality? Where's your own style? But it is in these questions that the main mistakes of this horror are laid. It is better not to shoot anything than to make such a movie – no one needs and no one is interested. With such paintings, we can only compete with the Russians, they, by the way, also love their viewer to shit in the eyes.
I want to believe in Ukrainian cinema, because I love my country and I really like people in our time who are involved in filmmaking.
Yes, Ukrainian cinema began to revive, but did it go that way?
The answers to this question are very subjective, however, it is worth noting the obvious failures in trying to revive screen art.
I will combine minuses and plus. This movie has a very loud title that misleads people. It’s a good marketing move, but marketing doesn’t mean art.
The film is very well shot. Installation, camera work, sound. Everything is at an excellent level, that is, it absolutely corresponds to the analogues of modern, youthful, meaningless American films. But the main disadvantage in this similarity in the most important – in the story. But the plot is absolutely not Ukrainian, not new and uninteresting. It shows the poor tastes of the director and screenwriter, because it is completely spelled out by American stamps of thrillers and comedies. Stupid blondes, informals, funny Asians, an aggressive asshole who makes a lot of trouble, lesbian kisses for heterosexual guys, clumsy and “weak” main character who at the end of the film “surprises” everyone is boring and not creative.
Music is high-quality, but obsessively youthful.
The actors are not clingy, although they play well. Dmitry Stupka was lucky that his grandfather was Bogdan Stupka. So far, he is not very lucky.
If the viewer is a teenager who loves everything that is put in an open mouth, then the film should like it. Otherwise, nothing interesting is expected.
“Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors” is a film I had been waiting for with great trepidation. And, you know, he didn't disappoint my expectations. As for Ukrainian cinema (knocking on wood) is not even bad!
According to the actors I can not say much, since I did not know anyone from the main characters besides Dmitry Stupka. I liked him the most in the film with his performance. There’s nothing else to add, he’s a great actor. Pasha Lee also coped with his role as a cheerful person at a fairly high level. Nikitiyuk and Ostapchuk were just good, played normally, there are no complaints against them. Here's the women's part let down a little... The girls did not play their roles, as for me.
The beginning of the film does not mean anything. At first, everything is good, like in a comedy. But then it started. It was strange that the hero of Stupka did not guess to count the labeled souls, because together with the evil spirit Nikityuk there were 8, and according to the story of the blind teacher of souls there were 7. In general, the main plot of the film resembles “Destination Point”. There is also a certain circle of people who must die, but that is the similarity. But the scene where there was a battle with an evil spirit reminds me of the ending of the first part of Ghost Rider. Also, with the help of superpowers, the main character must kill the evil spirit. But basically the film is unique: the incredible nature of the Carpathians, Chernivetsky University - all this is just fascinating and unlike anything.
You know, I didn’t expect such great music in a Ukrainian film! It was a great surprise.
Voice: In some scenes Horro sounds slightly cut the ears, but this did not greatly affect the overall impression of the picture.
Graphics: as for Ukrainian cinema - top class! Filmed in the best traditions of internationally recognized masters. The film does not shine with special effects (molfar running through the forest and several fights between a demon and a molfar, a demon and the main character). In general, the film was also pleased.
In general, , the film was very pleased. There's some misunderstanding left from watching, and I think that's a plus, because I want to revisit the picture again to understand everything. Taking into account all the above, the rating would be 8 out of 10. – for plagiarism of several films (although where in the current century without it?!). Well, for acting girls. But the budget of 877 thousand, incredible locations and, most importantly, my soul of a patriot (I write in Russian, according to the rules of Kinopoisk) make you put the highest estimate!
10 out of 10
Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors is a mystical story about the eternal confrontation between good and evil.
At one of the lectures, as a result of clarifying the conflict between the guys, an ancient Zgarda was lost. Eight students after her disappearance, notice strange signs on the body and now they are connected by one mystery, the solution of which they will go to the origins of ancient magic - in the Carpathians.
The creators, unfortunately, could not offer something fresh and new. When you watch a film, you constantly catch yourself thinking “somewhere I have seen and heard it,” but no matter what, the picture is still different from others in the atmosphere of the Ukrainian spirit. Here you can see Ukrainian landscapes, scenery - Carpathians, Chernivtsi. Also partially get acquainted with the characters of folklore - molfars and healers, bizarre spirits.
Characters are quite familiar - an athlete, a knuckle, a beauty, a clown, etc. Dmitry Stupka, Bogdan Yusipchuk, Vladislav Nikityuk quite well played their roles. Pasha Lee also brought a positive coloring of the picture, since mostly with his participation all comedy scenes take place. Alena Musienko and Marina Shako, in my opinion, were taken into the film solely through appearance, they probably did not need to demand anything more, but I lacked quality acting, which caused me personally moments of irritation. Especially in the last scene, where the heroine Alena Musienko did not express any emotions.
Yes, this is not a masterpiece, the film is not the best of its kind, but for Ukrainian cinema and this is already an achievement!
6 out of 10
I had a bad feeling about the movie after watching the trailer. Judging by the title of the film, I expected to see something epic, fabulous, with an emphasis on folklore. Instead, I watched the advertisement for another low-budget American semi-horror-semi-thriller.
But. After the premiere, everyone was talking about this film with such enthusiasm that it bribed me. Besides, the director himself is from Chernivtsi, so I, a resident of this small town, was a sin not to go to the film.
Unfortunately, all the disappointment that befell me while watching, does not find words that could be embodied. The movie is terrible, and I’ll tell you why.
First, the name. That’s interesting, the director himself read the novel by Mikhail Kotsyubinsky, with which he “overwrote” (I can’t say otherwise) the name? What do (except the Carpathians) have in common between the fairy-tale and tragic Ukrainian story of Romeo and Juliet and the fictional, sucked out of a finger, not related to Ukrainian culture at all to the story of a superhero student who hunts the demon of ecology?
Secondly, the main characters and the selection of actors. 30-year-old student Volanchik, his half-Asian friend, a stupid rocker, two silicone fools, Dasha from "Daddy's Daughters" and a simple Ukrainian virgin Angela are studying at ... philosophical and theological???? After all, those who have ever been to Chernivtsi University will immediately guess this audience on the first floor of the sixth building (well, what other faculty can you study ancient runes and secret signs?). One gets the impression that blind, deaf corrupt officials sit on the admissions committee of one of the most prestigious universities in Western Ukraine. In addition, in five years of studying at this university, I have never seen female students come to couples in cocktail dresses.
Almost the entire film ALL the characters were extremely infuriating with their stupidity and playfulness. When another hero died, it was like a small victory for me. In addition, I am extremely glad that the main character got so few lines, because I am constantly haunted by the feeling that her fish lips are about to burst.
The third is the distorted image of the university in the film. A director who studied there could do more than turn a Ukrainian university into an American college. What really pissed me off were the marijuana scenes and the toilet sex. I am not some religious fanatic, but these scenes were filmed under the church, in some shots you can even read the sign with the service hours.
Fourth, soundtracks. The music in the film is out of place, it even seemed to me that the director simply opened the section “popular” in the audio recordings of the most famous youth social network and inserted the first tracks into the film, as long as at least some music played.
Fifth, cliché. The main characters talk, look, fight, like in American horror films. Remarks can be predicted from the first word. And, when it seemed, nothing more in the Americans can not “steal” – here you are: a typical American LESSORUB, which even has an axe instead of a saw.
Sixth, "twilight." Why the bigotry of the vampire saga? Her features are seen everywhere in the film, especially in the fight scenes. By the way, I don’t understand what that stop frame was about at the end of the movie. Can you show me how good the cameraman is?
The film is not saved even by colorful molfars, which I would like to know more. In the final scene of the wizards' conversation with Volancik, they barely touch the essence of the film itself - why is the demon free? This is the idea of the film to show the relationship between people and nature. But, alas, probably, the director was so carried away by the remaking of Western horror films that he forgot what he wanted to say.
In general, I evaluate the film by three - I put the Pole Zakhar and Vova's jokes on a score, and another ball - from pure patriotism to Ukrainian cinema. Which, unfortunately, is Ukrainian only in name.
The last time I remember such a hype from “Stolny” filmed by the director of the same name, which cannot but upset with a very small number of such films, since Levitsky proved that we can if we want, and even with such a budget. I hope that the next picture of this magnitude will be waiting in a much shorter period of time.
I’ll start with the minuses, I’ll end with them, because everything else I liked, and I also want to remind you that all of the above is my personal view of the picture as a spoiled curtain-covered movie viewer:
1. The soundtrack was selected perfectly, but I would like to hear the domestic performers.
2. Excessively pro-American characters, especially the guys at the gas station, this greatly reduced the atmosphere of something native in the cinema.
3. Many clichés from popular American cinema, some films were just read and at one point caught myself not listening to dialogue, and draw parallels with the originals.
4. Killed the ending, it was not necessary to do such a painfully standard turn of events (IMHO), he for many years as not popular and predictable. The first thing that came to mind in the last few seconds of the film was the phrase: “Why!”
There are many advantages, at least the fact that two weeks after the premiere it was almost impossible to buy a ticket for the session, and this despite the fact that the film is shown in all cinemas of the city. Humor was good, very happy! The quality of the picture can be praised for a long time. We played on the title, I hope the viewer will not be disappointed with this picture, even if it is for once. I take off my hat in front of the Ukrainian cinema and wait for further development, my viewer will go with great pleasure because he is hungry in his own way.
7.5 out of 10
The film was unexpectedly enjoyable, even though I was critical. A stunning picture, the beauty of the Carpathians, good editing – all this is unusual for Ukrainian cinema. In fact, it's staggering. And there is no longer any concern for a weak plot or a talentless Musienko - there is only pleasure in quality. Going to this film, you can not ask about the essence, about the “what” it is – you need to get the pleasure of “how” it is made. So I won't criticize you. Unless I repeat that the main character is terrible.
As for the Hollywood pattern and the “Americanization” of our reality, in this case it is more of a plus than a minus. Detachment from reality does not spoil the appetite, creates the familiar generation of the 90s and 00s fabulous, does not strain, in general, it fully meets the criteria of entertainment cinema.
It’s great to see the older generation of actors. Especially well fit into the mountain poetic picture of the doctor. I mean, "The Liquor." The main antagonist performed by Vladislav Nikityuk pleased with restrained, intelligent play. Charming. Ruta (Sofa Galaburad) was intrigued, but her role ended too quickly. But the scene of her death – the most poignant moment of the film, well played in the atmosphere of suspense, giving hope for a more mysterious development of events – but after it, the tension goes down. Maybe that’s what the creators intended – to make a youth comedy, not a thriller. In that case, it worked. Glamorous boys and girls are nice to see. If you haven’t seen it yet, I recommend going to the cinema. One can argue about the merits of the film, but this is definitely a new page in the history of Ukrainian cinema.
Director of the film Lyubomir Levitsky not in vain was awarded the title of “ray of Ukrainian cinema”. In my humble opinion, to make a film like this for $ 1 million - you need to have talent.
I went to the film with great fear to be disappointed, after all, Ukrainian cinema is in a rather deplorable state. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
Operator’s work is at a high level, unusual angles, the nature of the Carpathians is very beautifully shown. Special thanks for shooting at Chernivtsi University, its beauty is breathtaking! A little confused “grain”, but it even gave the picture some charm.
The actors are wonderful, all charismatic and memorable. The mortar reminded me of young Haratyan, at least shoot! Most of all I liked Vlad Nikityuk - here he is, our answer to Patison, and quite decent, sweet and nanny! All the girls are cute, sexy and athletic.
At times it seemed to me that the director went overboard with eroticism, but the film is also youth, apparently, the bet was made on young, thirsty for young flesh, students.
Cliché - yes, where without it. But before you learn how to do a great original work, you need to learn to copy well, and “Shadows” even though cliched, will give a head start to a lot of cheap American horror films. (Who compares to Twilight, did you watch Shadows at all, or just the trailer?)
The script basis could be better, but again - better than many stupid thrillers of Hollywood.
Grafon in places frankly pumped up, but in general - very decent. And for the future - combat scenes should be put more carefully, better worked out, then there will be an ideal in general.
10 out of 10
The second attempt of Lyubomir Levitsky to create a masterpiece of Ukrainian cinema.
The reason for going to the film was the interest, what will Ukrainian cinema show us this time? I also read some positive comments about the film on Facebook from friends. But I honestly didn't expect much. And for good reason:
For me, it was one version of an American horror movie. It's no secret that a lot of horror stories are reduced to stupid comedies. 'Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors' it also succeeded.
I won’t be the first to notice the non-professional girls in the movie. Beauty is yes. But acting is still something to learn. And it is not in vain that then they only talk about the external data of Ukrainian women, and we are offended that no one needs our intelligence.
Of the advantages, it is worth noting good shooting, although, it would not hurt to work on the quality of the image. Dmitry Stupka played well. The plot was dynamic and gave no reason to sleep.
What is the meaning of the film?
This question is often answered by everyone. Personally, since the resurrection of Zahar and the battle 'good and evil' I have learned three things:
First of all, the problem of ecology is raised: ) As strange as it may sound. In the house near the molfar, they say that dark spirits began to rise when people began to cut down the forests. What do we see today? Trees suffer at the hands of man, the world is being technologized, and we do not appreciate the gifts of nature.
Second, the subject of selfishness. That's also what Zahar says. Who do we love? Myself. You can find many arguments to deny this fact, but, unfortunately, to confirm them still more.
And thirdly, finally, on the positive side -- how humans differ from demons -- we tend to correct. People, do you hear me? We are given this by nature, why do we not want to admit mistakes, ask for forgiveness and go on with life without feelings of regret and guilt?
Overall, the film is worth watching. Let us support the national cinematography, materially and with assessments:
Just out of the theater. Impressions are the best!
No matter how worn-out the main theme was - about a group of young people who got into a scary story - still the movie succeeded! For some time, such a film condemns the vices of modern young people: greed, selfishness, endless communication through the Internet instead of normal dates. That’s why I really liked: first, the dialogue of two old sorcerers, and secondly, the monologue of the demon.
Carpathian folklore and color is not enough, of course, but they are present. Thanks for that. The navigator candle was especially pleased.
Regarding the actors, I praise Paul Lee, Dmitry Stupka, Vladislav Nikityuk. I liked Roxolana Kravchuk. I also remember a bearded man on a truck. Charismatic Vuyko!
In the story and soundtrack, I will not dig much. There are sins, but they did not spoil my viewing. Some plot twists even turned out to be unexpected, and this is exciting.
I can’t help but admire the special effects. And this is on a ridiculous budget!!
As for the incomparably beautiful Carpathian nature, it is not enough in the film. I need more. This is the only downside from my point of view.
In general, I am pleased with the viewing and wish our cinema even more success.
Before the light bulb is your Twilight, I have not watched them and I am not going to, so I do not worry about any plagiarism there.
To the light bulb of advertising, which for some reason everyone can see. I didn't notice any. Probably not picky about the little things. That's great!
The long-awaited Ukrainian premiere of 2013 did not disappoint. Successful marketing policy is conditioned by the following factors: the association of the name with the work of Kotsyubinsky, the big names of episodic characters O. Sumy ta O. Freimuth. But the main reason, of course, the very release of the Ukrainian film, which is expected as flashes in the starless sky.
Actors. The male team coped with the roles perfectly. Particularly worth highlighting is Vladislav Nikityuk as a student from Poland ta Pavel Li - a friend-comedian of the main character. Amateur actors embodied in their characters a little worse.
The plot is quite simple, predictable. There are many flashbacks in the head from “Harry Potter”, “Destination”, “Twilight”, especially in the manner of shooting that development of events. But this does not spoil the impressions of the film because of the adaptation to the Ukrainian mentality and traditions. The movie looks in one breath. Crazy characters, the fight against ancient evil, the test of friendship and love. An interesting feature is the unification of an unreal set of genres: comedy, horror, adventure, detective, fantasy, mysticism, thriller. The humor in the film is an order of magnitude higher than modern cliché American comedies.
Special effects are cool, like for a budget of $877,000. Dynamic episodes and musical accompaniment can also, of course, be attributed to the advantages of “Shadows”.
The general atmosphere. Unsurpassed landscapes of the Carpathians, the exterior of Chernivtsi University, Carpathian legends are the highlight of the film. The color of the era is recreated very qualitatively, and molfars are interesting charismatic personalities.
In general, the release of Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors inspires hopes for the promising future of Ukrainian cinema. And confirmation of this is impressive box office fees and leadership at the box office. In comparison with Shtolna Lubomir Levitsky made a huge breakthrough, which, of course, makes the viewer wait for the next creation of the Ukrainian director-innovator. I would definitely recommend watching. For the effort and place of origin of the film appropriate assessment.
The long-awaited premiere, the loudest Ukrainian film of 2013 "Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors". A year ago, the film was already causing a huge stir. Since watching the trailer, many couldn’t believe the fact that it was actually made in our native Ukraine. So it was really interesting to watch all this and wait for what happened. And it did. The film was intriguing, interesting, but not without misses.
The first thing that made me happy was an intriguing start. Everything is so mysterious and mystical. But then we are shown the everyday life of students, their love stories, non-standard ways of pastime, etc. This, in my opinion, turned out very confusing. Interesting, but I would like to slow down a little bit, not from one episode to another. The first half of the film is quite calm. But after all 8 students get into an unpleasant story, with a Carpathian amulet, this is where the most interesting things begin. The actions of the heroes begin to gain the necessary dynamics. The atmosphere, on screen, becomes more mysterious and even more mystical. I cannot say that everything went without stamps, they are present, but do not cause any aggression.
The story itself is interesting enough to sit around and wait for the story to end.
Speaking of special effects, I can say it’s cool. Made so high-quality for about 800 thousand dollars is already a good achievement for Ukrainian cinema. That was really a quality study. And the final fight is a special thank you. Everything resembled a picture from an expensive fantasy, which in Hollywood is shot for much more than ours.
I'll say a few words about actors. The most striking were, in my opinion, Vladislav Nikityuk and Dmitry Stupka. You really believe their characters. A little missed Alena Musienko. I was very happy with my humour and Paul Lee. The rest lacked a little bit of ordinariness. I could not reveal their characters. It was a pity that
Olge Freimuth and Olge Sumy devoted so little screen time. I wish I could see a little more.
Also about musicality. Again, I will return to the first half of the film. It was a little embarrassing that in some individual episodes, when it would seem that the music should quiet down, it continued to sound. And sometimes it's too much. All the tracks sound straight. That’s what I think is such a serious flaw. But fortunately, in the second half everything improved for the better.
To summarize, I can say that the film turned out. For our Ukrainian cinema is a huge leap forward. Let everyone say that slithered with Hollywood, let everyone say that there is more noise around the film than the film itself.
I want to talk about the film as for our country, it is something new that we have not yet created. Even with small mistakes, but the creators succeeded. It was an interesting story, with its characters and atmosphere. It's a joy. It is really nice to know that this is a good Ukrainian youth film.
8 out of 10
“Shadows of the Unforgotten Ancestors”, the third full-length film by Ukrainian director Lyubomir Levitsky, is a kind of synthesis of comedy and thriller, focused on the mass audience. In fact, it was created in American likeness and, nevertheless, it can rightly be called a ray of hope for Ukrainian cinema.
Warning! It has little in common with the work of M. Kotsyubinsky.
Actors
I was pleased that the film mainly involved young actors, and not only “veterans” of the theater and TV. Olga Freimut and Olga Sumy (so advertised), fortunately, very rarely flashed in the frame. Yes, and the acting they are also not particularly impressed, what to say.
But as for the “fresh blood”: the female half of the cast left much to be desired. Was there not enough experience, or effort, or talent? But the men's team is a completely different matter.
Dmitry Stupka, who played the main character, made him believe in his naivety, romanticism, determination and heroism. Overall, he did an excellent job.
For Bogdan Yusipchuk, the role of Arthur the antagonist gave an opportunity to truly reveal himself after his serial, I hope, past. This is no longer a typical “vanilla” boy, but a completely “lived” peculiar character. Here you and fear, and arrogance, rudeness and strength - the full set of a real villain.
Surprised Vladislav Nikityuk. His performance even misled me into thinking he was a Hollywood actor. To explain why is difficult, you better look for yourself.
The plausibility of the game of Valery Legin, Nikolai Boklan, Vladimir Nechiporenko and Pavel Li is not in doubt.
Sound
In the first half of the film, the musical accompaniment was still somehow clear and fit the plot. But then went the tuber, dubstep and motifs of the symphony orchestra - this, gentlemen, vinaigrette.
If we were trying to parody the Americans, we had to do it to the end: hire a professional composer, so that he could withstand all the sound in a single and understandable genre.
Picture
Of course, the filmmakers won on the impressive architecture of Chernivtsi University and the majestic landscapes of the Carpathians. But, at the same time, lost in the quality of the image.
Initially, the blurring of some frames of the film I blamed on my short-sightedness, however, there were other “eyewitnesses” who noticed annoying errors in the picture. Although, I must admit, the installation itself is quite sane.
Stop, plagiarism!
There's plagiarism in the movie. Most likely, the creators did not want to bother too much with the script and do everything like a blueprint. Like the Americans, let’s show that we can do it too. How about doing something better, something better?
The scenes of the chase in the forest + the fight with the demon are too reminiscent of footage from the Twilight saga. And, as if in confirmation of this, at the beginning of the film flashes the poster “Twilight”.
A lot of template scenes are merged with horror movies. Cutting out the heart, “death marks” on potential victims of the curse, suddenly turning on / off the flashlight, chasing a stupid thug with an axe at the edge of a blonde in the woods ... The list does not end there.
And yet, I, for one, did not expect that the same thug would begin methodically cutting down the tree on which the blonde sits. And yes, why is a blonde trying to pick up a mobile signal in the woods? Who will she call? Dead friends? That’s why she’s blonde.
Completely black demon eyes, obsession, “special dagger”, sand on the doorstep as protection from the demon – Dean and Sam Winchester to help you (see the series “Supernatural”).
The moon in the film is constantly improbably ogroom. Immediately comes to mind the moment of catching the moon on the hook from the c/f “Bruce Almighty”.
It is very reminiscent of an excerpt from "Harry Potter" the conversation of the protagonist with a molfar in some other reality, while the same protagonist is killed by a demon and mourned by his beloved. Naturally, after this conversation, the hero is resurrected and finally dealt with the demon.
Questions
There are many questions left. Why, when an “earthquake” begins in the office of a blind teacher, does not one of the heroes jump up or even blink an eye until the teacher himself shouts to them to run? It looked strange at least: the walls shudder, the ceiling collapses, and the heroes sit quietly.
When a demon pulls an axe out of his back, there is absolutely no blood on it. "That's why he's a demon," you might say. When Arthur shot him with a gun, there was blood.
Anyone who has seen the movie has not noticed that there is too much advertising. Already in the first 10 minutes, the MTS voucher appears in the frame, then Kotex, OKKO, Durex flash. What was missing was advertising some deodorant or shampoo.
Although, of course, for Ukrainian cinema the budget of a million dollars is grandiose (it was necessary somehow to get all this money).
Morality
The moral of Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors is not that good conquers evil in the usual way. Rather, it is that in each of us (to varying degrees) there is selfishness and greed that generate evil. We are demons, or worse, as Nikityuk’s hero put it.
The movie’s tagline is “Are you sure you’re human?”
Result
In light of all the above arguments, in my subjective opinion, the film is 7 out of 10. Moreover, I do not discount the fact that this is a Ukrainian film, and I do not give in to the feeling of patriotism.
Let all the criticism that falls on this film not be "malignant." After all, the movie is created for the viewer, and the viewer has the right to demand more.
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to working on the mistakes.
I was looking forward to the premiere of the film. I waited and he didn’t disappoint me.
I’ve seen a lot of movies in this genre, and maybe that’s why I was too picky about Shadows. First, from the first dialogue of the characters, it is clear that the film is not focused on the Ukrainian mentality. I will not say that this is a minus, but for me, as a Ukrainian, it was somewhat unnatural. Also, you can immediately see that the film was made by a man who shot “Twilight” (a scene of searching for legends on the Internet or a view of the road from above, between the trees). I don’t think it’s too scary, but I don’t want to watch a movie or see scenes from another movie.
The plot is ordinary as for such a genre, but a piece of “Ukrainian” pleased: Carpathians, molfars, legends - it was interesting. As for the horror, there were a few unexpected moments from which to shudder, but no more. There were no moments when it was scary to look at the screen.
I want to celebrate the actors. The most liked the game of Pasha Li, slightly less Dmitry Stupka and Vladislav Nikityuk. Very talented guys. I didn't like the girls' game.
As for a budget of $ 1 million, the film is very well shot. Especially beautiful were shot episodes with Carpathian nature.
In general, the film is not bad, maybe I would watch it again. I want to say a big thank you to the director, Lyubomir Levitsky, for “Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors” and for his efforts for Ukrainian cinema, because Lubomyr is the only one in Ukraine makes worthy films.
8 out of 10
Very subjective, or with Olga Freimuth in the lead role
I went to a rather late session - 19.30 - with my twelve-year-old daughter. In general terms, she foresaw her reaction (the poster, the names of the actors and the reviews still say something), but I wanted the child to watch the movie. All for the same stupid reason (I pretend to ignore it, but I lie to myself too much): I wanted my child to see a modern Ukrainian movie on the big screen. Still, very much works on this film the fact that it is Ukrainian.
In general, we were one of ten spectators, I was the oldest, my daughter the youngest. For comparison: not so long ago at "Stalingrad" was just a pandemonium.
Impressions... In horror, thrillers, horror, fantasy, I understand very poorly. I don't really know, to be honest. I just don’t know this genre, I’m not interested in it. Unless, of course, we are talking about the old Soviet Vie or Hitchcock films. I have not seen “Twilight”, and youth horror stories about the companies of pretty characters of student age, if I saw it from the corner of my eye, then accidentally and in pieces. But I do know something. That's what I'm thinking. Subjective.
First, the film has no relation to the work of Kotsyubinsky “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” and the film of the same name Parajanov. No fucking ka-ko-go. But the name attracted the people... Marketing, however...
Second, there are some plot points. In an American or Venezuelan film, for example, they could be blamed on the fact that it is another country, we do not know the order there. Well, it's kind of a different reality. And here's a Ukrainian university. A normal student, it seems, suddenly goes bluntly with a knife to a classmate who talks with a girl only in high tones. And he almost puts a knife in. The result: a nice conversation in the office of the rector with the mother of the student in the style of “Well, Hiba is so possible?” And back to the audience. I can’t imagine what would have happened to the student. Or is the knife in this movie an archetype? Oh, only the word archetype in our history was missing. And the captain of the sports team (in our universities stars, by the way, rather KVN students become, not in the USA tea live)? Are there any such inadequate athletes? And smoking pot in the university yard? And the outfits of college girls? The vice-rector for educational work, don't they have on the staff? And the appearance of a Polish student in the middle of the semester, which does not surprise anyone? What is the political incorrectness towards Poland? And the girl who skipped barefoot half-naked to the twilight? Well, maybe with the fear of superpowers, I discovered... What about the situation at the gas station with the uncle who then dressed up as a cowboy? It’s like a Twin Peaks, not a real place. And this endless Olga Sumyskaya??? I have nothing against her, but still – when will the Ukrainian film be released without her name in the credits?
Stupid advertising in the movie is ridiculous. The magazine "Viva", the car "Toyota", chewing gum of a certain brand, cigarettes (even the inscription "Shock your health" insured: -)
But it is, in small detail... And most importantly, I did not see the Carpathian color in the film. Well, except for the actual landscapes, and then some kind of erased. It feels like me and the authors of the film and some of the authors of positive reviews in different Carpathians have been ... And in my opinion, everything that the plot of the film is based on, if it has to do with Ukrainian folklore and pagan beliefs, it is very, very remote. There are fairy tales Verkhovina, there is the same Kotsyubinsky, other authors ... Read it. And then there are small villages, so small that there are no street names and house numbers, and in others – electricity and passports for residents. It all looks very different than in this movie. There are different sounds, different shades, different male charm, different pace of life and different mysticism. It's not like this movie. It's not reproaching the movie, no. But why say that the plot moves are built on the legends of the Carpathians?
Another weakness of the film is the characters. Well, ordinary Ukrainian-speaking people do not talk like this, neither in Western Ukraine, nor in Kirovograd, nor in Poltava. Only radio and television broadcasters talk. Too much literary, too theatrical (it seems that our actors have much more theatrical experience than cinematic). The word “mali” is not enough to bring the speech closer to spoken, everyday. This is true of most Ukrainian films. There is, by the way, on the Internet a video of KVNovsky “Transcarpathian stewardess”. So there the conversation of the Carpathians is shown much more real, although it is a banter, of course. A little, however, molfar humanized his speech, but still not to the end.
There's a lot of criticism. Let's get to the good stuff. First, we probably spent 80 hryvnias for two (which is a lot in the context of income and expenses of the average Ukrainian family) for good reason. The film made a good impression on my daughter. Why? Spirits, legends, pretty guys and girls, some relationship between them, in the end, good conquers evil, it is scary to fall asleep alone, sit with me: Great effect, I think. If I were 12 years old, I might have reacted the same way. The poster doesn’t say the movie is for kids. It says the name of Olga Freymut...
And the most positive point is Dmitry Stupka. I remember three or four years ago, his eminent grandfather said that Dmitry is still very far from the actor. No way. It turns out, so quietly one good actor in our country has become more. It is a pity that there are few films in which good Ukrainian actors can reveal themselves.
Instead of output. It seems to me that the state can afford to shoot such a movie (not necessarily for budget money, but in principle) if this movie occasionally dilutes, for example, the creations of Tarantino or Pearl Harbor (the latter I do not like, but I admit a certain level). But if the appearance of such a film in the country is an event, then... I'm just embarrassed to write the word "sad" here. One thing is good – we do not claim the Oscar. Still, at least some order with self-esteem.
And about the real Carpathians, someone else will make a film. Mystical. The town of Kusturica is a gypsy village...
For the film bet 7 out of 10 discount on the fact that it is a film of Ukrainian production with elements of folklore (7 this is an estimate only for our brother). On a similar Hollywood film, not to go to the cinema, even at home would not look. I support previous opinions on the assessment of the director’s work, the actors’ play, and the predictability of the plot. Shooting the Carpathians and Chernivtsi - a special thank you.
Movie dynamics: Interesting, fun, sometimes scary, thoughtful exactly up to the moment when all young people get into the house of a blind teacher. Then the screenwriter jumped. Lots of questions left. The story is about killing seven people. Why, if it fell out of the plot? hand-to-hand combat with a demon - Why?! The appearance of Vova out of nowhere - how?! Demon in jeans and leather jacket - Why?! Did Zgarda go back to university? - What can you say?
Why such obvious moments are not thought out, it remains unclear to me as an ordinary viewer.
It is truthfully said that it was necessary to decide on the genre of the film, because first I looked like a horror movie Movie, and then kind of like a fantasy.
The film didn’t live up to my expectations as it expected the worst. In general, I had a pleasant impression from watching the film, but the blunders with the script were very annoying.
I really want to talk about Ukrainian cinema when the movie is really good. Really.
In the meantime, I do not consider it appropriate to judge the film from the point of view of the fact that there is no such Ukrainian cinema, so what is rich - the happy.
If you have a thriller, so be kind to introduce a thriller.
Most outraged and upset that the operator (maybe at the request of the Director) as an example took the famous “Twilight”. I counted three episodes to confirm this:
1) first in the background there was a poster of this vampire saga in the room of one of the heroines - it seemed to hint at what is to be seen next (perhaps they expected that since 2008 everyone has already forgotten about the first part of the film "Twilight");
2) search for information in the open spaces of the Internet - here they used the same techniques with fonts and increasing the scale openly and brazenly;
3) the road to the Carpathians - shooting from above, and the view is almost a copy of the first part of the work of Catherine Hardwicke.
But this would not be so striking, if not for the sad American inappropriate (!) flavor. Yes, the same mistake that is often found in Russian films of our time: dialogue, behavior – everything is copied from the American format. The difference is that here it looks unnatural, implausible and fake.
It is outrageous to see the authors of the film about the typical student life. I've never seen girls in couples at universities in dresses meant for going out. I didn’t know that “the group” is also a common thing, which everyone talks about.
Soundtracks - yes, foreign performers mostly. I wanted more ethnic music. In the end, the name swung at one of the great classics of Ukrainian literature Kotsyubinsky.
A separate song is the pursuit of the grandfather-magician, who galloped like a doe on his two, which was later explained by superpowers, but looked terribly funny.
The magic was transmitted through a miracle flower, which was not so well drawn, so it stood out and made you remember the word “photoshop, Photoshop, Photoshop”.
The battle scenes are primitive. Again, this is new for Ukrainian cinema, but not for the average viewer who is used to such scenes and in general knows how they should be staged to impress (at least not disappoint).
In general, the picture is drawn to a third-rate American youth thriller. Ukraine doesn't smell much. I'm sorry.
Carpathian legends are a storehouse for an excellent plot and thriller, and mysticism, and horror, and drama. Draw and create. Why to borrow from Western colleagues form and content is unknown.
It's good to have a start. Only here is interesting: the fate of Russia will follow, that is, a series of meaningless films a la American lifestyle, or there will still be a place for the development of its own unique style, that is, its niche in world cinema. And Ukraine can do it all, just nobody knows about it yet.
Finally, we waited for the first Ukrainian breakthrough in cinema, but did our hopes come true?
Before us is a new film by Lyubomir Levits, whom everyone remembers on the first Ukrainian thriller & #39; Stolnja ' which is called a bit of a failure, but few people know that this film was his coursework at the university. Then he made a big splash with his gangster comedy 'Lombard ' and now he's back to the horror genre again.
The plot is built according to all the canons of the Hollywood horror story - young depraved students, the main character is a little nerd, Americanboy, slightly stupid blonde, joker, etc. The main character becomes the initiator of the curse that falls on the whole company. And they have to travel to the heart of the Carpathians to remove an ancient curse and destroy an ancient demon. Everything is smooth and standard. But as the creators of the film and laid the basis and positioned the film originally as 'popcorn Movie' - then claims to be the plot can not.
Unfortunately, there is not much left in the Ukrainian cinema. Locations and names. If they were to be replaced, it would be an ordinary Western film, although that may have been the original idea. Names (pseudonyms) are made under the American tracing, place of residence, behavior, etc. Everything is made under the American mentality, so somehow it is not perceived that events are served with our peers, friends or neighbors.
It is very pleasant that the film finally got to the Ukrainian mythologist, because this world is so rich and wide, and at the moment unexplored. However, the emphasis is more on the youth audience, so here sex, tits, and ass dominate mythology. Again, this is to bring a modern young viewer into the hall.
Even the title works for advertising, and, in my opinion, does not correspond much to the film. To the creation of Kotsyubinsky or the film Parajanov, this tape has not the slightest relation (as said Ukrainian famous singer Nina Matvienko, who also fell for the title of the film: ' when I saw the movie, I crossed myself'.
Locations are very good. Incredible landscapes of the Carpathians are well replaced by the ancient Chervnivetsky University.
The musical accompaniment was very cool in some places, but it scored the background so much and went from song to song that it was just tired of hearing. The film is full of horror noises that occur with the action on the screen (enhancing it) and without it.
The cast was pleasantly impressed, although the female part was still clearly lower. Stupka - here everything is well created image, and it is worth talking about him as Dmitry Stupka, and not as a grandson of Bogdan Silvestrovich. Pasha Lee is a funny character, designed simply to bring a smile to the viewer, which he coped with. Bogdan Yusipchuk is a wonderful image of the leader of the company, bouncers ' Americanboy'. If it weren't for the hay scenes, he'd probably beat the demon to death with his fists. Vlad Nikityuk is a beautiful image of a calm monster hiding behind the guise of a person, but for some reason the image of Colin Farel with ' Nights of Horrors' immediately pops up. Still, it's an interesting image.
In the girls - echo... Musienko is just a beautiful girl in the frame, but acting, unfortunately, as for the main character with little. Marina Shako - well, she has the same image among girls, perhaps, is better kept in it. Sofia Galaburak - the role is not big, but also the image holds, and remains in memory. Roxolana Kravchuk is a typical image of a Gotesa, nothing new or not ordinary. Appears in the film out of nowhere, and almost disappears as well.
Graphics - for Ukraine, of course, this is a huge breakthrough. However, against the backdrop of an incredible computer crow and Fern Flower, the demons in the final scene lose significantly. And in general, the final scene is some kind of color that does not correspond to the whole picture, but the final frame with the fading time struck with its presence.
This is clearly no longer 'Stone' but not yet 'Harry Potter ' We can only thank the team for this ' Ukrainian film breakthrough' and expect new pictures!
So, we got the usual mystical film of fears of the Ukrainian producer, and since it was the first such film during the independence of Ukraine (and before independence), it was really a breakthrough. Go to the cinema and become part of the revival of Ukrainian cinema is worth it.
Overall score 7/10, but making a discount on budget, working conditions and what has finally happened in Ukraine
9 out of 10
mix from Twilight, Morshinskaya and X-Men commercials
The release of Ukrainian cinema is an a priori event. Not because it's grandiose. It happens once in a blue moon. Rarely. And rarely successful.
Lyubomir Levitsky, the director of this film, primarily relied on mass character. His previous creation - ' Shtolnya' because of the car and a small cart of kinogaps, inconsistencies and frankly unfinished script failed miserably at the box office.
The title certainly sends us to the classic of Ukrainian literature Mikhail Kotsyubinsky and his story with a very similar title ' Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors'. A similar name, the presence of molfars, the name of the main character and mystic - this is where all the similarities with the work of literature end. Why would you give such a name?
Unanswered question. However, like most viewers, there were no logical answers about the unmotivated death of most of the characters. So we have a standard set of characters:
The main character is a nerd boy, frozen in puberty; the main beauty, with whom he is hopelessly in love; a friend-joke who jokes funny. This is the only one in the company.
A short-sighted but athletic footballer, the guy of the main beauty, who does not disdain sex with her girlfriends at recess. An informal girl, in this case Gotessa. And of course, a sexy but stupid blonde. Which ridiculously moves on its Laboutens in the Carpathian forests.
Silent but charming student Zahar with Polish roots in Taiota Prada, who does not disdain marijuana in between classes at the university.
The plot is simple: the main character, Ivan, pushed by passion for the main beauty and brisk Zakhar, decided to defend the honor of the girl and entered into an unequal battle with the thug-footballer. As a result, the fight ended with a knockout of the grief nerd, his face and the ninth Zgrada suffered, which in an unknown way penetrated the heart of the guy. This is even evidenced by the X-ray.
Absolutely different and incompatible because of lifetyle fellow students unite before the universal evil and go to the Carpathians, in order to find a molfar. This is a man who is believed in the Hutsul culture to have supernatural powers. Sorcerer, simple.
And then the rest of the film you do not leave the feeling that you are watching a mix of 'Twilight', ads Morshinskaya and 'X-Men'. Especially the taste of the twilight saga is felt in the battle scenes. And the stall was just opening! Mark Eberley, an American cameraman who worked on Twilight, filmed 'Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors'.
The attempt to attract the viewer in the form of star Ukrainian names on the poster, which played episodic roles, is absolutely incomprehensible to me. Olga Sumy can be seen in the film 3 to 30 seconds, and Olga Freimut once as a reporter from the scene.
Numerous disadvantages, in the form of an insufficiently developed script, not fully disclosed characters of the main characters, certain oddities in the plot and the behavioral line of the characters, slightly compensates for good special effects and camera work.
Ukrainian dubbing of Ukrainian cinema, according to Levitsky, is normal American practice. Nevertheless, for the first few minutes, the audience aloud tried to understand whether it was a trailer or a Ukrainian film.
The most positive side, in addition to the beautiful view of the Carpathians, for me is that this is a Ukrainian film shot in Ukraine, so forgive me for the tautology. Another plus is a reference to Ukrainian beliefs and traditions.
That's how I thought I went to the movie. On the one hand, I understood that the film of Ukrainian production and expect the Golden Mountains is not worth it, on the other hand, I held in my head the trailer, which I initially mistook for a Hollywood trailer in Ukrainian dubbing.
In general, I liked the acting, especially pleased Vladislav Nikityuk, I completely believed in his character. I will not discuss the quality of the shooting at all, because it is at a high level. a separate plus for the musical accompaniment (dubstep inserts were very pleased). Yes, there are, of course, errors, but on the general background they are insignificant. Yes, it may not be perfect, but it can be forgiven.
The country of the producer will play a very large role in determining whether the quality of the film, because this is said more than about the film itself. More attention, more conversation, and, of course, more criticism, since this is ours. Critics will throw a spoonful of tar in this barrel of honey, but I can say one thing, the taste of honey will not change.
If you discard all the patriotism and awareness that the film is domestically produced, then you can put 7 out of 10. But how can patriotism be discarded? That's my 10 out of 10 score - the movie surprised!
In recent years, Hollywood films do not always meet expectations, in Russia, on the contrary, not always of course, but still come out very high-quality cinema. In Ukraine, if the film is released on the big screens, it is already an event (unfortunately not always pleasant, but there are exceptions).
Director Lyubomir Levitsky has already had an attempt to shoot the first Ukrainian thriller, to put it mildly, it did not work very well, but as many say the first pancake lump. The director did not abandon attempts to shoot something in the spirit of adventure and thriller.
“Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors” is a new project of Lyubomir, which is not directly related to the story by Mikhail Kotsyubinsky and the film by Sergei Parajanov. The premiere date has been postponed several times and on November 14th we were able to evaluate the film. What can I write about this?
Plot
There is no need to write a lot here, we have seen all this somewhere and not in one movie. But what's the difference? This is happening in Ukraine and with our guys.
Actors
Dmitry Stupka played confidently and immediately you can see that he has experience in cinema, Pavel Li did not fake and almost all the humor was on him, Vladislav Nikityuk and Bogdan Yusipchuk also got used to the role. Roksolana Kravchuk and Alena Musienko also coped with their task.
Very beautifully shown Carpathians and the quality of the image liked.
Of course, there are minuses without them. There can be attributed and not very high-quality shooting at night and advertising that skipped though and tried to do it is not noticeable.
I want to say that this film is worth seeing, to see what Ukrainian cinema can be. As for Lyubomir Levitsky to say thank you for trying to make a quality film (with such a budget) and that he moved away from American stamps and made films under his own style.
P.S. So the movie is about 7 but for the effort. . .