I really enjoyed the camera work, simple and sometimes naive plot matched the overall mood of the wartime Ukraine, be it today or the WW2. The beauty of this film is in small details, food and cutlery, children games and objects of the everyday life of then city of Stanislaviv. Its wintery and beautiful, with the unavoidable sense of tragedy. Children play a big part in the film, and it is through children that we can see and experience many aspects of the complex co-habitation of Jewish, Ukrainian and Polish population on the territory of the multilayered Ukrainian West. Soviet and German occupation is portrayed as a series of hardships that each of the national group experience differently, yet, knowing one another, can't help but compare.
Plot summary
Immortalised as one of the most scintillating and uplifting Christmas songs, 'Carol of the Bells' adapted from a popular and loved Ukrainian folk melody, came to represent the spirit of brotherhood and unity all over the world. The peaceful and neighbourly existence of three families, Polish, Ukrainian and Jewish, sharing a large house, musical evenings and merriment in the city of Stanislaviv in the years preceding and post war, is shattered. First in the Soviet occupation and the persecution of the Polish family, then, by the Nazi occupation of Ukraine, and the decimation of the Jewish family. Sacrificing their lives the Ukrainian family manage to save their neighbours' children and their own daughter. Death and loss come to these families, but the healing power and joy , and a promise that the Future Will Not be Cancelled which "Carol of the Bells' evokes will be everlasting.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
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720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Cosy and Bleak at the same time
One of the best movies I have seen in a while!
Beautiful cinematography! Incredible details, atmosphere, acting, writing, camera work.
The story is simple and that what makes it even more compelling. Three families from 3 different religions, backgrounds and nationalities become neighbors. Not very thrilled with the idea of associating with each other at the beginning, shortly soon life and war bring these people together. The movie is about humanity and kindness. It's about having hope and seeing light even in the darkest of times. It will most likely leave you in tears, but you will not regret spending time watching in. Ukraine just keeps on surprising with how talented they are in everything!
very strong movie
I really liked this film, everything is very vividly filmed down to the smallest detail, it shows the whole tragedy of various occupation regimes on the territory of Ukraine.
It is shown how war affects children, but even in such times, children do not stop believing in miracles I also really liked the acting of the actors, they were chosen very well, everyone played as they should During the war in modern Ukraine, it is very difficult to watch this film, most of the audience in the cinema hall cried...
I recommend everyone to watch this work, the future of Ukrainian cinema is based on such works
Bravo!! Very strong work.