Hutsulka Ksenya

Quality of actors, scenes, music, all fits together. If you want to see something chill and easy-going I recommend to watch the movie!

On its surface this is a romantic comedy, but the subtext here is huge. The visual design and music are spectacular. The music hall sensibility and lampooning of the rich Americans let you know all isn't what it seems. And a single title card at the end literally changes the entire story. If you're open for a truly unconventional take on a Rom-Com, welcome to the Carpathian Mountains. Dahk Daughters provides a suitably mysterious presence through-out the film and Dahka Brakha also performs a number at the party toward the end of the film. Ultimately it's a better film than you may have been expecting and very, very Ukrainian.

There is a good side of genuine Ukrainian movies and culture - genuine aesthetic, innate sense of beauty, good music, hidden symbolic depth behind the external lightness of Ukrainian baroque and stunning heroism. "Hutsulka Ksenya" have all of these - it is aesthetically appealing, including picture, various small details, colors, clothing and actors (how can you resist from falling in love with beautiful Varvara Lushchyk whose picking to perform Ksenia's role was somewhat unorthodox yet excellent decision) as well as wonderful experimental Ukrainian music performed by Dakh Daughters and DakhaBrakha.

The story is seemingly sentimental, romantic and comedic, but in the core it is tragic considering time-frame circumstances (Polish occupation followed by Russian occupation) yet nonetheless it is somewhat life-affirming and devoted, even heroic, giving motivation of Ksenia and the professor to remain and to do what is right and meaningful, reminding of what present-days Ukrainian volunteers are doing in times of modern war with Russia.

The best part of this movie is definitely a musical performances of unique Ukrainian band "Dakh Daughters". Those folk motives are filmed in a perfect harmony with a beautiful Carpathian nature. This symbiosis by itself can be a good reason to give this movie a chance and choose it for a relaxing evening.

Another positively distinct features of "Hutsulka Ksenya" are: great color palette; technical quality of filming; costumes and other visual decorations.

The weakest point of movie is scenario. It's so naive and oversimplified even for a musical comedy genre. The problem is not the fact that it doesn't have enough humor, but the fact that it's simply poorly written.

But it's still an interesting choice for an easy film, you can enjoy without being overwhelmed by complexity of the narrative.

We don't need all movies to be the Cannes drama after all.

Breathtaking story of love between young Ukrainian "hutsulka" and american boy who is going to inherit 1 million dollars 💵. It is lovely movie which contains many Ukrainian folk songs. I had really great watching it. Carpathians landscapes, pretty good actors, lovely songs - it is bright example of new ukrainian filmography. I am highly recommend to see this film!