You have to face your fears: the film 'Bucha' was presented in Lutsk
11 listopada 2024
The film’s creators – director Stanislav Tiunov and actor Vyacheslav Dovzhenko – came to the premiere screening in Lutsk (Ukraine).
Many in the audience could not hold back their tears, and after the screening one viewer asked for a minute of silence to honor all those who were killed by Russians.
Afterwards, everyone had the opportunity to ask questions to Stanislav Tiunov and Vyacheslav Dovzhenko. According to the director, this film is a time machine, created by Ukrainians and for Ukrainians.
Filming began almost immediately after the de-occupation, which brought a wave of criticism – some said it was too early to make such films, as they could hurt people.
In 2022, the Ukrainian Film Academy stated that depicting tragic events in feature films during wartime carried the risk of exploiting the tragedy. But the director is convinced – the time is right.
“While we argue whether it’s timely or not, country-404 has already made its film and even tried to present it to European society as the truth. But who, if not us, should recreate this truth and show it to the European audience and to ourselves as a reminder?” said Tiunov.
He recalled how at the Kyiv screening the daughter of Iryna Filkina came – a photo of her hand with red nail polish became a symbol of Bucha. She said then that it was very important for Ukraine to create such films.
“For someone, it’s just a manicure with a little heart. But we wanted to show that behind it was a real person. She had her own life, her plans. She was going home, talking to her daughter. In our film we show her real life. We were very anxious when her daughter came. But she overcame all her fears and is moving forward toward a new, stronger life. For many, the word ‘Bucha’ already means fear, a trigger. But you have to face your fears. Work through them, move forward, because the war continues and we all need strength. And where can we find strength if we live in fear? That’s why, you know, this film also has a healing effect,” he said.
Vyacheslav Dovzhenko played the main antagonist in Bucha – a Russian FSB colonel named Mykola Ivanovych, who hates everything Ukrainian. As the audience noted, he provoked their hatred.
“So, I did my job well,” Dovzhenko agreed.
However, he added that it was emotionally very difficult to play this role. After some scenes, he even stepped aside, pretending to take a smoke break, just to cry in the corner.
The creators explained that they tried to preserve the reality of events not only through real stories in the film but also through authentic locations. For example, the episode about Ihor Poklad, who was saved by Kostiantyn Gudauskas, was filmed in the composer’s real house.
The film is also unique in that not a single penny from the state budget was used for its production – it was fully funded by investors and Ukrainian businesses. And, according to the director, this marks a new chapter for Ukrainian cinema.
https://kultura.rayon.in.ua/news/758917-treba-divitisya-v-oblichchya-svoim-strakham-u-lutsku-prezentuvali-film-dramu-bucha-znyatiy-na-realnikh-podiyakh
Many in the audience could not hold back their tears, and after the screening one viewer asked for a minute of silence to honor all those who were killed by Russians.
Afterwards, everyone had the opportunity to ask questions to Stanislav Tiunov and Vyacheslav Dovzhenko. According to the director, this film is a time machine, created by Ukrainians and for Ukrainians.
Filming began almost immediately after the de-occupation, which brought a wave of criticism – some said it was too early to make such films, as they could hurt people.
In 2022, the Ukrainian Film Academy stated that depicting tragic events in feature films during wartime carried the risk of exploiting the tragedy. But the director is convinced – the time is right.
“While we argue whether it’s timely or not, country-404 has already made its film and even tried to present it to European society as the truth. But who, if not us, should recreate this truth and show it to the European audience and to ourselves as a reminder?” said Tiunov.
He recalled how at the Kyiv screening the daughter of Iryna Filkina came – a photo of her hand with red nail polish became a symbol of Bucha. She said then that it was very important for Ukraine to create such films.
“For someone, it’s just a manicure with a little heart. But we wanted to show that behind it was a real person. She had her own life, her plans. She was going home, talking to her daughter. In our film we show her real life. We were very anxious when her daughter came. But she overcame all her fears and is moving forward toward a new, stronger life. For many, the word ‘Bucha’ already means fear, a trigger. But you have to face your fears. Work through them, move forward, because the war continues and we all need strength. And where can we find strength if we live in fear? That’s why, you know, this film also has a healing effect,” he said.
Vyacheslav Dovzhenko played the main antagonist in Bucha – a Russian FSB colonel named Mykola Ivanovych, who hates everything Ukrainian. As the audience noted, he provoked their hatred.
“So, I did my job well,” Dovzhenko agreed.
However, he added that it was emotionally very difficult to play this role. After some scenes, he even stepped aside, pretending to take a smoke break, just to cry in the corner.
The creators explained that they tried to preserve the reality of events not only through real stories in the film but also through authentic locations. For example, the episode about Ihor Poklad, who was saved by Kostiantyn Gudauskas, was filmed in the composer’s real house.
The film is also unique in that not a single penny from the state budget was used for its production – it was fully funded by investors and Ukrainian businesses. And, according to the director, this marks a new chapter for Ukrainian cinema.
https://kultura.rayon.in.ua/news/758917-treba-divitisya-v-oblichchya-svoim-strakham-u-lutsku-prezentuvali-film-dramu-bucha-znyatiy-na-realnikh-podiyakh