The Guide (Ukrainian: Поводир, Povodyr) is a 2014 Ukrainian drama film directed by Oles Sanin. The film stars Stanislav Boklan, Anton Greene, Jeff Burrell, Iryna Sanina and Jamala. It focuses around a young Peter Shamrock who serves as the guide of a blind bard in Soviet Ukraine. There is a special audiodescripted version for blind people.[1]
| The Guide | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Oles Sanin |
| Written by | Oles Sanin Alexander Irvanets Irene Rozdobudko Paul Wolansky |
| Produced by | Maxim Asadchiy Igor Savychenko Oles Sanin |
| Starring | Stanislav Boklan Jeff Burrell Anton Sviatoslav Greene Oleksandr Kobzar Jamala Iryna Sanina |
| Cinematography | Serhiy Mykhalchuk |
| Edited by | Denys Zakharov |
| Music by | Alla Zahaikevych |
Production company | Pronto Film |
| Distributed by | B&H Film Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 122 minutes |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Languages | Ukrainian Russian English |
| Box office | ₴2.5 million |
The film was produced by Pronto Film with a budget of about ₴16,762,000, with the Ukrainian State Film Agency financing parts. The film would then go on to make ₴16.6 million, although ₴14.1 million was given back to the Ukrainian State Film Agency, making the true amount at around ₴2.5 million.[2] It was selected as the Ukrainian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards,[3] but was not nominated.[4] There was some controversy over the selection of the film in Ukraine regarding the voting process.[5]
Following the Russian Invasion of Ukraine, several cinemas including Regal Cinemas began screenings of The Guide to raise money for relief efforts in Ukraine through the Ukraine Relief Fund.[6][7] On 13 March 2022, a screening of The Guide in Salem, Massachusetts, was attended by the Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, and Congressman Seth Moulton. By 17 March 2022, it was screened across 600 cinemas in the United States.[8]
Plot
editSet during the early 1930s in Soviet Ukraine, American engineer Michael Shamrock arrives in Kharkiv with his ten-year-old son, Peter to help "build socialism". He falls in love with an actress Olga, of whom she has another admirer, Commissar Vladimir. However, Michael gets his hands onto secret documents about a planned mass seizure of food by the Soviets. As a result, he is killed whilst boarding a train. Peter then escapes his father's killers by hiding into the car of another train.
Peter is then saved by a blind bard (kobzar) named Ivan Kocherga. With no other chance to survive in a foreign land, Peter becomes Ivan's guide.[9] Meanwhile, Vladimir dedicates himself to find Peter.
Cast
edit- Stanislav Boklan as Ivan Kocherga
- Jeff Burrell as Michael Shamrock
- Anton Sviatoslav Greene as Peter Shamrock
- Oleksandr Kobzar as Comrade Vladimir
- Iryna Sanina as Orysia
- Jamala as Olga
Reception
editSince its release, The Guide has generated generally favourable reviews.[citation needed]
On IMDb, The Guide has an average rating of 7.7/10.[10]
Awards and nominations
editFollowing the announcement of The Guide being nominated by the Ukrainian Oscar committee, several individuals left the committee in protest including the head of the Ukrainian Association of Cinematographers, Serhiy Trymbach.[11]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Odesa International Film Festival[12] | Best Actor | Stanislav Boklan | Won |
| Jury Prize for Cinematography | Sergiy Mykhalchuk | Won | ||
| Grand Prix | Oles Sanin | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Warsaw International Film Festival[13] | Grand Prix | Oles Sanin | Nominated |
| 2015 | Universe Multicultural Film Festival[14] | Grand Prix for the best movie | Oles Sanin | Won |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Film The Guide has been adapted for Blind People" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Скільки коштують, скільки збирають у прокаті та скільки повертають фільми Держкіно - Детектор медіа". 14 March 2018. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Oscars: Ukraine Nominates Oles Sanin's 'The Guide' for Foreign Language Category". Hollywood Reporter. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "Nominees (see subsection: Foreign Language Film)". Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Oscars: Backlash Over Ukraine's Nomination for Best Foreign Language Category". Hollywood Reporter. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (14 March 2022). "U.S. Theaters From Regal To Indies Will Play 2014 Ukrainian Film 'The Guide' Starting Friday With Proceeds Going To Relief Effort". Deadline. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "'The Guide': Local film showings to raise funds for Ukrainian relief efforts". shepherdstownchronicle.com. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ detector.media (17 March 2022). "Фільм українського режисера Олеся Саніна «Поводир» покажуть у 600 кінотеатрах США". detector.media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Punzi, Ludovica Punzi (22 March 2022). "Banduras for the Blind: Minstrels, Epic Song, and the Ukrainian Culture of Resistance". Early Music Seattle. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Sanin, Oles (12 November 2014), Povodyr (Drama, History), Stanislav Boklan, Jeff Burrell, Boris Georgievskiy, Pronto Film, Ukrainian State Film Agency, retrieved 14 August 2023
- ^ "Українськість "Поводиря" дратує багатьох кінокритиків. Глядачам фільм подобається | Тексти для думаючих людей". 9 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 January 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "OIFF 2014 award winners". oiff.com.ua. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ "International Competition at 30th WFF". wff.pl. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
- ^ "About 2015 Universe Multicultural Film Festival". umfilms.org. Retrieved 26 December 2023.