When the Trees Fall

When exotism and ethnic clichés boil over. A film that appears to aim for the total tribe exploitation. Seductive sceneries, bombed-out suburbs, fancy warriors, rural womenfolk, playful pimped children, and a white horse. Out where the map ends. Every shade of a drivel. Devious motivations. Get your ducks in a row, Marysia.

This film is a realistic representation of the problems of some representatives of Ukrainian youth (love, bad company, marriage without love and without a way out).

Catch this film whenever you find a chance. full of overwhelming animalism, specious photography, coalescing with a blazing cast and a story that is going to tie you to your seat. a furious debut to remember and a rare opportunity to catch part of the heartbeat of present Ukrainian society.

Outstanding achievements in score, sound design and sound mixing complete this extraordinary experience. This film will stay with you.

In general, it is a grey mix that alternates scenes of domestic violence and unjustified cruelty, seasoning it with the tragedy of a rural bleak routine, from which the main character cannot escape. The drama seems to be present, but for some reason sympathy for the main characters is not awakened, perhaps because of the chaos and, in some cases, the absurdity of events and actions. Sometimes it can be perceived as a documentary with elements of delusion or attacks of mysticism. The filmmakers do not seem to understand that the unspoken, ill-considered, or recklessness of the scenes is not yet poetic or highly artistic. Several allegorical-eloquent and not tainted with hopelessness scenes of childish, innocently-amazed perception of the world by the little girl Vitka, in particular her relationship with an almost fabulous white horse, do not save viewer from the feeling of life-cluttering, illogicality and depression that remain after watching this movie. Score - 3/10.