Diagnosis: Dissent
Ukraine / 2024 / 100 min, dir. Denys Tarasov, dop. Yevhen Kirey
The protagonist Andrii Dovzhenko finds out a horrible truth, that has been hidden in USSR for years - most of those accused of «anti-Soviet propaganda» were never sent to prison, but to special psychiatric hospitals with a diagnosis of "slow progressive schizophrenia". Andrii finds himself in a real hell of punitive psychiatry and faces a difficult choice - to cooperate with the KGB and return to his family, or to reveal the truth about dissidents tortured in such psychiatric hospitals.
Hendelik
Ukraine / 2023 / 100 min, dir. Taras Dudar, dop. Oleksiy Nazaruk
The eternal desire of a man to find true love leads the screenwriter Ivan Herasymov to encounters with women of his dreams - the romantic Lady, the open-hearted whore, and the mysterious Lady with a veil... Ivan stops understanding which of these women is real and which is just a product of his imagination. In search of the truth, he finds himself in the mystical railway cafe "Hendelik." There, thanks to a "random" encounter with two strange strangers, he is transported into various emotional fragments of his life: first love, funny quirks, moments of incredible happiness, and unexpected disappointments. These memories help Ivan understand everything and become free...
Between us
Ukraine / 2023 / 110 min, dir. Solomiya Tomaschuk , dop. Yuriy Dunay
The film's plot revolves around the abusive relationship between two women who become hostages of a random murder: Sasha, a girl with a traumatic past and chaotic love affairs, and Anna, a doctor. During the viewing, the audience will witness the dramatic changes in the lives of the main characters. Additionally, the authors also address a number of pressing socio-cultural issues: domestic violence, drug addiction, the position of women in society, and PTSD.
It's Spring...
Armenia / 2022 / 105 min, dir. Roman Musheghyan , dop. Aleksandr Khachatryan
The film is inspired by true events of four-day war in April of 2016. “It’s Spring…”, depicts paternal relationships spanning three generations and their conflicting ideologies on life. The grandfather, Aram, is a seasoned soldier, a former General who has devoted his entire life to creating and preserving a government for his country. His son, Gnel, is a businessman who to this day cannot forgive his father for putting country above family. Grandson, Levon, is a talented musician who is inspired by his grandfather's ideology. However, in the life of our hero his future and his sense of duty for his country collide creating the film's main conflict. The unexpected war in Armenia disturbs the peace in the relationships between the three generations. In this film we witness a tragedy of a nation through one family's story...
Toloka
Ukraine / 2020 / 116 min, dir. Mikhaylo Illienko , dop. Alexander Kryshtalovych
Taras Shevchenko has a small ballad about how three Cossacks fell in love with Katerina. Katerina entrusted her choice to fate: she promised to marry the one who would free her brother from captivity. Two out of the three Cossacks died trying to fulfill the terms of the agreement, the third managed to save the brother, but it turned out that Katerina's brother was not her brother, but her beloved... The finale of the poem is postponed for a long time - Katerina will have to wait for centuries, without aging and without losing hope. This story, like a parable, flies through the history of Ukraine, reproducing its dramatic and heroic episodes. Each trial destroys Katerina's house. But she stubbornly, like hundreds of generations of Ukrainians, again and again raises it from ruins.
The life of a Ukrainian house is short - from war to war. If it weren't for the toloka (house), there would be nowhere to meet her beloved. But no house in Ukraine was ever "on the edge."
Taras. Return
Ukraine, Kazakhstan / 2019 / 120 min, dir. Olexander Denysenko , dop. Alexander Kryshtalovych
"Taras. Return" is a large-scale adaptation of the novel of the same name by Alexander Dovzhenko. The film tells the story of the last months of Taras Shevchenko's exile in Kazakhstan. That summer, the poet, exiled for military service in the Russian Imperial Army, receives a message from friends in St. Petersburg: he has been personally pardoned by Tsar Alexander II. However, the military leadership of the Novopetrovsky Fort is in no hurry to inform Taras of this and issue the decree of release. Moreover, a secret agent from St. Petersburg tries to do everything to make the poet stay here forever.
The Easterner
Ukraine / 2019 / 90 min, dir. Andy Yva , dop. Andriy Kotlyar
"The Easterner" (working titles "Road Movie Military" and "Rocada") is a Ukrainian debut feature film directed by Andy Iva. The plot of the film is based on real events during the Russian-Ukrainian war (since 2014).
The call sign of the main character is "Beard." He is an irrepressible optimist and capable of solving any problem. This time, he is the first to head to headquarters to "knock out" what is necessary to supply his unit. Beard takes a young rookie nicknamed "Director" as his partner. Together, they will have to travel through checkpoints, frontline towns and villages, meet with military and civilians, and encounter various troubles along the way.
U311 Cherkasy
Ukraine / 2019 / 94 min, dir. Timur Yashchenko , dop. Yuriy Dunay
"Cherkasy," also known as "U311 Cherkasy," is a Ukrainian feature film directed by Timur Yashchenko about the defense of the eponymous naval minesweeper, blocked by Russian forces in Donuzlav Bay during the annexation of Crimea in March 2014.
CRAZY WEDDING
Ukraine / 2018 / 90 min, dir. Vladyslav Klimchuk , dop. Timofiy Avramchuk
"Crazy Wedding" is a Ukrainian comedy film directed by Vlad Dykyi. The plot of the Ukrainian film is borrowed from the 2014 French film "Serial (Bad) Weddings."
When Vasul Seredyuk, head of the local museum, sent his daughter Katya to a French university, he never expected her to inform him that she is marrying French heart surgeon François, but now he's spreading the proud statement throughout the entire region: "The Seredyuks have made their European choice!" When he meets his cherished European future son-in-law, how huge is his surprise: the Frenchman is of African origin. Organizing a wedding so it won't happen seems like a brilliant idea, but the success of such a plan is at risk when true love stands in its way.
I've done color grading for the entire trilogy of 3 films, but the first part has a special place in my heart.
Available for viewing on YouTube. ( Link )
BOBOT
Ukraine / 2018 / 100 min, dir. Maxim Ksyonda , dop. Volodymyr Ivanov
"Bobot and the Energy of the Universe" is a cool science fiction film about how unusual characters become involved in a strange story.
A boy named Vadik develops a strong friendship with a transformer booth that unexpectedly shows signs of life. The two friends embark on a serious challenge to fight against the all-powerful Evil! Only together can they prevent a catastrophe that has huge and irreversible, tragic consequences.
lETS DANCE
Ukraine / 2019 / 100 min, dir. Olexander Berezan , dop. Nikita Kuzmenko
A bold young dancer arrives in Kyiv to participate in a grand dance tournament. Besides fame and recognition, he needs a large sum of money for his brother, who is in trouble. The guy must give it his all to outperform tough competitors. But the biggest challenge will be love, which he encounters on the dance floor! Let's dance and don't stop! You can do it all! Move to the rhythm of the soundtrack by MONATIK!
Action, dance, fights, and over 2000 shots in 100 minutes. The color grading was done in Autodesk Lustre.
chervonyy
Ukraine / 2017 / 108 min, dir. Zaza Buadze, dop. Olexandr Zemlyanoy
In 1947, Ukrainian Insurgent Army soldier Danilo Chervonyy finds himself in the horrifying meat grinder of Stalin's camps, where he must endure the hellish and inhumane conditions of hard labor, persecution by criminal leaders, treachery, and despair. Danilo finds the strength within himself to resist the repression of the camp chief and makes a desperate attempt to break free, sparking the first uprising in the camp.
Beautiful locations, a dramatic atmosphere. The color grading was done in Autodesk Lustre.
Available for viewing on YouTube. ( Watch )
THE NEST OF THE TURTLEDOVE
Ukraine, Italy / 2016 / 110 min, dir. Taras Tkachenko, dop. Olexandr Zemlyanoy
The story follows Ukrainian woman Daria, who travels to Italy in search of work to support her family back in Ukraine. While she earns money abroad, her family back home gradually falls apart, and her very young daughter becomes pregnant by a boyfriend who has no intention of marrying her. Additionally, in Italy, Daria meets a man, and they begin a romantic relationship. When Daria returns from Italy, she discovers that she is also pregnant...
One of the best films I've worked on. I just love rewatching it sometimes. The color grading was done in Autodesk Lustre.
