Every one or two years, from 1979 until 2006, Valery Shevchuk published, if not a novel, then a collection of short stories. And, in addition, there was a whole series of works written by him in the 60s and after 2006. In short, the intensity of his creativity could provide an entire film studio with original scripts. However, only four films were made based on the writer’s works.
The first film adaptation of Shevchuk’s work was a short film based on his early short story (written in the early 60s) “She is waiting for him, waiting.” The film became the student work of the then young director I. Zhilko.
Based on the novel “Panna Sotnikovna,” artist-director Anatol Stepanenko made a half-hour film “Full Moon” (“Full Moon. Nocturne”) in 1986. In the memory of the archives, this film remains a colorful fantasy on the theme of Ukrainian folklore.
Among the few biographical facts about Shevchuk, it is known that in the summer of 1962 the writer traveled a lot to the cities of Ukraine with documentarian Igor Grabovich. However, it is not known whether the young writer then helped the experienced director.
While still a student, together with his brother Shevchuk wrote a script based on the story “The Mountains Are Smoking” by Yaroslav Galan.
“This is not the only decent work that the writer created. We were convinced it would be a great film. Of course, we were shown the door, and the film based on this work appeared only in 1991, but it was already shot by other people,” Shevchuk wrote in his autobiography.
Two full-length film adaptations of Shevchuk’s works were directed by Natalya Motuzko. In 1991, she released “Miracle in the Land of Oblivion” based on the work “Peter the Runaway”. The film tells the story of the murder of two twin brothers, whom the villagers consider to be one person. Out of fear that the Messiah has come and the Last Judgment is about to begin, people are committing new crimes.
And in 1992, Motuzko released the film “The Voice of the Grass.” The film tells the story of a young witch who is taught the secrets of witchcraft by an experienced healer. The film was shot in the poetic style of Ukrainian folklore and is filled with mysticism.
Valery Shevchuk himself did not work on any of the scripts for these films.