Over the three years of its existence, “Golden Dzyga” has proven its status as the main film award in Ukraine. It has become the most adequate guide in choosing the best domestic films. On the eve of the third Golden Dzyga award ceremony, which will take place on April 19, we have selected a dozen full-length films that were nominated and won in the race for the Ukrainian Film Academy awards.
Cyborgs (2017)
dir. Akhtem Seitablayev
The plot of the film tells about a two-week combat duty in September 2014 at Donetsk airport. At the center of the story is a young soldier of the Ukrainian army with the call sign “Major”. He leaves behind his musical career to defend his native country. The guy faces difficult trials at the front, risks his life and tries to understand what kind of world he will have to live in after the war.
The film received six Golden Dzyga statuettes, including a prize for the best film of the year.
The Nest of the Turtledove (2016)
dir. Taras Tkachenko
A resident of western Ukraine, Darina, goes to Italy to work. She leaves her unemployed husband and teenage daughter at home. Abroad, she works hard as a maid for a wealthy family. Soon the father of this Italian family becomes interested in Darina. At the same time, the main character’s husband is building a new house with money he sends from Italy. Over time, Darina returns and she has to make a very difficult choice between her own and someone else’s families.
The film won six Golden Dzyga prizes, including statuettes for best film and director, as well as all acting prizes.
A Gentle Creature (2017)
dir. Sergey Loznitsa
The film takes the viewer to the Russian province. A woman sends a package to a loved one in prison. But soon the box of groceries is returned to her. Therefore, the main character decides to deliver the parcel herself. When she finds herself in a town located next to a prison, in order to deliver the package she has to meet with a local authority, corrupt police officers, thieves, ex-cons and other suspicious local residents.
The film won the Golden Dzyga in the Best Director category.
Falling (2017)
dir. Marina Stepanskaya
Kyiv. Winter 2013-2014. 27-year-old composer Anton returns home from Switzerland. He showed great promise and was called a genius. However, the guy was unable to withstand such pressure. Due to this, he became addicted to alcohol, after which Anton had to spend five months in a psycho-neurological clinic to get rid of his addiction. And now the main character is learning to live again. At this moment he meets an attractive girl Katya. She plans to emigrate to Berlin. However, meeting Anton radically changes her plans. Together they try to build their own world when everything around them is falling apart.
The lead actress in the film, Daria Plakhtiy, received the Golden Dzyga for this film. In addition, the Ukrainian Film Academy awarded this film with prizes for the best composer and best sound engineer.
Live Vatra (2015)
dir. Ostap Kostyuk
The film tells about the inhabitants of the Ukrainian Carpathians: lonely 82-year-old Ivan, 10-year-old boarding school student Ivanka and 39-year-old shepherd Vasily. Their destinies intersect in an unexpected way. Spring comes and all three have to climb into the mountains, where sheep are grazed.
The documentary was awarded prizes for best cinematography and best composer.
Servant of the People 2 (2016)
dir. Alexey Kiryushchenko
The film continues the events shown in the first season of the series “Servant of the People.” The honest President of Ukraine Vasily Goloborodko has been in power for six months now. During this time, the economic situation in the country continues to deteriorate, the national currency is devaluing, and criticism of the head of state is growing. In order to stabilize the situation in the country, the president is forced to make a deal with the oligarchs, as well as take out a large loan from the IMF. However, in this case, Goloborodko will have to make very big concessions that contradict his honesty. Solving such problems turns into a real detective story.
The comedy was nominated for three Golden Dzygas, but as a result did not receive a single statuette.
Wild Field (2018)
dir. Yaroslav Lodygin
The plot of the film revolves around a guy named Herman. He returns to his hometown in the Donbass, where his brother ran a gas station. There Herman meets his childhood friends, the local mafia, provincial beauties and makes new acquaintances. Herman’s goal is to save the family business and defend the gas station that local authorities have their eyes on.
Donbas (2018)
dir. Sergey Loznitsa
The film is a mosaic of 13 stories that unfold in the occupied Donbass. Each of these stories is based on real events of 2014-15. The heroes of the film are actors who act out fake news reports, Cossacks who engage in robbery, corrupt officials, local residents who are left homeless and others.
Hero of My Time (2018)
dir. Tonya Noyabreva
A young provincial Zhorik comes to Kyiv to find a job and start a new life. However, during his journey, he encounters problems with the housing office, misunderstanding of employees, difficulties in finding a job, and meets the girl of his dreams. The film shows the contrasts of a big city, in which luxury coexists harmoniously with poverty, and high art with bazaar kitsch.
When Trees Fall (2018)
dir. Marysya Nikityuk
Five-year-old girl Vika, together with her older sister Larisa, comes to her grandmother for the summer. There they meet gypsies, local bandits, and also try to find mutual understanding with the local residents. Larisa’s relatives forbid her to meet with a young bandit named Scar, with whom the girl fell madly in love. However, she is ready to do anything just to stay with her lover.