‘Pamfir’ Helmer Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk Warns Against Beatification of War
28.05.2022 - 11:21
/ variety.com
Marta Balaga In Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s Cannes title “Pamfir,” marking his feature debut, the carnival is fast approaching. His protagonist (Oleksandr Yatsentyuk) finally returns home, ready to do better this time. But when his child runs into trouble and there is no money, as always, there is no way but back.With Indie Sales on board and produced by Bosonfilm, “Pamfir” is a co-production between Les Films d’Ici (France), Madants (Poland), Quijote Films (Chile), Mainstream Pictures (Ukraine), Wady Films (Luxembourg), Moderator Inwestycje (Poland), Studio Orlando (France) and Soilfilms (Germany).“This carnival, malanka, is specific to western Ukraine.
It’s like a game – there are rules,” says Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk. While people sing, dance and fight, they also stage plays, returning to the concept of holy sacrifice.“When it comes to this celebration, there is a sense of loss. You lose something and then later, it rises again.
A bit like in Christianity or a bit like with our character. You don’t really know him. He is gone and then he comes back.”He wanted the viewers to feel “like tourists” in his film, he says.“All we can do is follow.
Everywhere he goes, it feels like he’s inside of a tunnel. Even in his house, he doesn’t have a lot of space. He goes through all these obstacles and then he has to make a deal with his conscience.”Pamfir’s willingness to risk his life and perhaps sacrifice himself for his family “hits differently” now, says Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.“All of a sudden, there is this connection to what is happening now, making it seem like some kind of premonition.