Official trailer of one of the most anticipated Ukrainian movie projects of 2020, the military action drama “Cherkasy” to be released in cinemas on February 27, was presented.
“Cherkasy” is a Ukrainian feature movie directed by Timur Yashchenko, based on the actual events of spring 2014. The same-named mine sweeper, blocked by Russian troops in Donuzlav Bay during the Crimea annexation, was resisting the enemy for three weeks and became the only one of 9 Ukrainian ships that did not haul down the national flag.
The commander of Cherkasy mine sweeper, Yuriy Fedash, was consulting the filming crew during their work on the movie. The cast includes sailors who held the defense on the ship in 2014 under Fedash command.
““Cherkasy” is a strikingly straight movie project. It is difficult to qualify it as a patriotic propaganda movie. We would like our viewers to draw their own conclusions. This movie is about ordinary guys making difficult choices in extreme life circumstances, about friendship, betrayal, and dignity. The creation of “Cherkasy” has been supported by many cultural and social institutions, business organizations, and, which is more important, by hundreds of ordinary citizens of our country who contributed through Big Idea crowdfunding platform in cooperation with the International Renaissance Foundation. "For us it became a confirmation of the movie subject relevance and importance for the Ukrainian society,” says the movie producer Marta Lotysh.
The filming lasted 39 days and took place on the Black Sea coast: in Odesa, at the Kinburn Spit, as well as in Ochakiv port area. Moreover, one of the locations was in the village of Chernihiv region. Events on Cherkasy mine sweeper were filmed on several ships.
“Cherkasy” is the first feature movie about Ukrainian naval forces in the history of the national cinema. It has been created in close collaboration and with assistance of the Naval Forces and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Military and security services provided real naval vessels and special military equipment, while military aviation, military personnel, including special forces (“seals”) were involved in the filming of action scenes. Some scenes were filmed during training exercises of the Ukrainian Naval Forces.
The film made by MKK Film service (Ukraine) and Inter Media (Poland) was produced with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency, the Ukrainian Naval Forces, the Great Idea crowdfunding platform, the International Renaissance Foundation, Lviv City Council, Lviv regional administration, Cherkasy regional administration.
The movie distribution in the territory of Ukraine to be conducted by MMD UA and FILM.UA Distribution. FILM.UA Distribution is also responsible for the international movie distribution. The premiere of “Cherkasy” festival version took place on July 16, 2019 at the Odesa International Film Festival. The war drama continued its festival history with participation in the main program of 35th Warsaw International Film Festival, one of 15 international Class A film festivals held in October 2019.
The All-Ukrainian theatrical distribution will start on February 27, 2020, on 6th anniversary of the Crimea annexation.
Follow the project on its pages at Facebook and Instagram.
For reference
Synopsis: February 2014. Start of the Crimean peninsula occupation. Cherkasy mine sweeper, along with other Ukrainian ships, is blocked in Donuzlav Bay – the way to the sea is shut off by the scuttled vessels of the Russian fleet. It's a trap. Our ships start capitulating to the Russians. There seems to be no other way out.
The movie is based on actual events. The story of the last Ukrainian ship in the Crimea, which resisted and continued its brave struggle.
Stage Director: Tymur Yashchenko
Camera operator: Yurii Dunai
Producers: Marta Lotysh, Iryna Klymenko
Scriptwriters: Tymur Yashchenko, Robert Kvilman
Genre: war action drama
Production Designer: Oleksii Velychko
Sound Engineer: Volodymyr Tretiakov, Farid Mbaidin
Music by: Anton Baibakov
Vocal: Katya Chilly Group 432 Hz
Film Editor: Oleksandr Chornyi
Makeup artist: Mariia Pylunska
Costume Designer: Dariia Kochnieva
Co-Director: Daryna Lukashenko
Cast: Roman Semysal, Dmytro Sova, Yevhen Lamakh, Oleh Shcherbyna, Ruslan Koval, Yevhen Avdieienko, Vadym Lialko, Vitalina Bibliv
Made by: ICC Film Service LLC (Ukraine), Inter Media LLC (Poland), with the support of the Ukrainian State Film Agency
Timing: 94 mins.
