Povodyr

After creation of Soviet Union the cultures of all nations except Russians were oppressed here. Many cultural figures of Ukraine (writers, poets, scientists, theater and movie directors, actors, painters, musicians, folk artists, etc) undesirable for Soviet regime were executed or exiled to Siberia on the hard physical works, especially during the 1930s (it is known as Executed Renaissance). Among such figures were bandurists, the folk musicians who played on the bandura (Ukrainian folk string instrument) and sign mainly the patriotic sad ballads about cossacks, the Ukrainian steppe warriors of the 15-19 centuries.

Main plot of this movie is a story of a blind wondering bandurist Ivan Kocherga in 1932-1933. Accidentally he gives some help to American boy Peter, whose father was killed by Soviet special services because of some secret documents, and takes him as sighted person – the guide.

Blind bandurist and his young guide are traveling in Eastern Ukraine among the beautiful landscapes and witnessing repressions of Ukrainian people by Soviet regime.

This movie is excellently visualized, which is combined with great music, including numerous Ukrainian folk songs.

It is clearly the best movie about Ukrainian culture since famous "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" (1965) of Sergei Parajanov and definitely the best one that was filmed in independent Ukraine so far.

Set in the 1930s, during the Holodomor, the film shows the struggle for survival and preservation of cultural heritage through the story of an American boy and a blind kobzar who becomes his mentor and guide in a world that is crumbling under the pressure of Soviet repression. The film skillfully conveys an atmosphere of fear, oppression, and hope at the same time, using poetic images of the Ukrainian land, music, and kobza songs. The actors' performances are extremely insightful, especially in the role of the blind musician, who symbolizes the strength of spirit and devotion to his land. Despite certain dramatic elements that may seem a bit excessive, The Guide impresses with its sincerity and deep immersion in historical memory. Eight out of ten for its emotionality, visual power, and the importance of a subject that reminds us of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit.

The Guide is a nice Ukranian historical drama from 2014 directed by Oles Sanin. It is really well made and has some good performances. Cinematography is quite overexposed on many scenes, making the actual look of the movie kind of artificial with overly dramatic lights or forced lack of colors, specially on the first half. When it explores the rural landscapes, the heavy snow, fog and the open air scenes, the results is far more effective. Anton Sviatoslav Greene was a good cast for the little Ukranian-American boy character, the same for Aleksandr Kobzar as Comrade Vladimir. These are my favorite performances on The Guide. The Kobzar universe is quite interesting and the music they play and sing is really stunning, but the whole "fight" thing was completely unnecessary - despite that it was factual, the results on screen vary from bad to worst, and doesn't add anything to the plot, neither help them to avoid their fate. All this together with a script that is sometimes a bit confusing, specially for non Ukranian audiences, I rate it 7 out of 10. Worth watching anyway!

This film's background is the Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. It is a story of a 10 year old boy who is separated from his American father after the father is assassinated by Soviet NKVD agents for possessing documentation that reveal the atrocities that were being committed by the ruling communist party in Russia/Soviet Union. Millions of people were perishing from the forced famine that the Soviet government enforced to collectivize the farming community. The plot revolves around the boy's attempt to survive in Ukraine and get back to his home in the United States. He is aided by a blind minstrel (Kobzar). The story is a heart wrenching view of life under the Russian/Soviet communist dictatorship. The scenery is beautiful, the plot is mesmerizing and the acting is superb. I give it 10 stars.

ZJ Kossak

This film is really valuable for me like for thousands other people. Because of its story lines, kobza-player's songs, picturesque Ukrainian nature and incredible mix of emotions like "laughing through crying". "The Guide" for me is a promise for the great future of cinema in my Motherland, because this film is valuable for Ukrainians only, but not for the whole world now. Let me begin from bad side of "The Guide". It's Jamala's unnatural play. She don't live in the film. She is trying to play. And this is the thing, which give opportunity for growing to Oles Sanin and Ukrainian cinema. Then, someone said Grin's play wasn't so good, but it can't be usual or whole-understandable for us, because he is a person from different country and culture both in real life and film. That's all about bad sides. Maybe, its worth to say smth about dialogs, but that which were played by brilliant actors are good and . I am completely sure co-scenes of Stanislav Boklan and Irina Sanina were the best, because of its authenticity and premiere on the "big screen". I should say a big "Thank you!" to Sergii Mihalchuk, who took a picture, and whole film team (I don't really know who should get the biggest appreciation, except of director and actors, of course). Another advantage its shooting in Ukrainian picturesque nature, which takes a heart with it for a long months (I have watched "The Guide" in November, but I still remember that moments of delight by simply watching native landscapes). Year, so many words without mentioning dramatic storyline in this film, which should play, actually, the main role. But for me it isn't smth new, unknown. I can't even imagine how it was. And I'm really stressful-less person, so it hasn't touched me. Only mentioned that it really-really-really and I have a huge reason to live for. Mistake isn't excused. But "The Guide" is still the best and you still should watch it to understand and to move our history on.