Povodyr

A testimony. this is the basic meaning of this admirable film. a blind man. a boy. Ukraine in the "30's. the geography of a world under dictatorship. and great cinematography. it is enough for describe a film escaping from the circle of worlds. because it is not exactly the film of a story. but a bitter remember. about a society. about a gray past. about a blind man. and a boy. in middle of embroidery of symbols.

When I heard about this movie in the first time, sincerely, I was intrigued. Ukrainian film production is surviving sphere, but indeed it can produce GOOD movies, with unexpected, not trivial plot, strong and mysterious characters, dramatic end.

This film has it's soul too. Minstrel's songs, chaotic escaping and changing of epochs in totalitarian empire via pure eyes of ten-year boy...

This film deserves to be watched. Definitely.

P.S. Maybe You don't know, but in real life NKVD chief's surname is Kobzar (minstrel). And. I await the next generation of Ukrainian films: about Kyiv Rus, Zaporozhian Host, epic and big-budget. Soon.

This movie is one of the few that impartially present the difficult times Ukraine found itself in during the 1930's. The times of massive repressions and executions of the civilian population, murder by forced starvation, and persecution of anyone who disagreed with the Soviet government in Moscow.

Basic knowledge of Eastern European history of the early 20th century would greatly help to see what links certain events together.

I suggest you read the synopsis before watching the movie to have a better understanding of the events that take place. Their true historical weight is what really gives them a deeper meaning.

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!

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.