STEPNE
СТЕПНЕ
Directed by Maryna Vroda
Ukraine, Germany, Poland, Slovakia | 2023 | Drama | Ukrainian, Russian
Set amidst stunning Ukrainian winter landscapes, vanishing villages, and emerging feelings of alienation between people in post-Soviet society, STEPNE is the story of Anatoliy, a man who comes back home from the big city to take care of his dying mother.
The mother’s passing, a meeting with his brother, and a woman he loves make him reflect on the life he’s had and the choices he made along the way. And then, just before her death, the mother tells Anatoliy about a treasure she has buried in the shed…
Credits
Director: Maryna Vroda
Screenplay: Maryna Vroda, Kirill Schuvalov
Cinematography: Andrii Lysetskyi
Editing: Franziska Wenzel, Maryna Vroda, Marek Šulik
Production Design: Mychailo Alekseenko
Costume Design: Volodymyr Kuznetzov, Oksana Kovtun
Sound Design: Igor Jedinák
Soundmix: Lucas Kasprzyk
Sound on set: Sergiy Prokopenko
Cast: Oleksandr Maksiakov, Nina Antonova, Oleg Primogenov, Radmila Schegoleva
Production Company: vrodastudio
Producer: Maryna Vroda
Co-production companies: Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Koi Studio, New Europe Film Sales, Kerekes Film
Co-producers: Andrea Wohlfeil, Agnieszka Dziedzic, Jan Naszewski, Marcin Luczaj, Peter Kerekes
With financial support of: Ukraine State Film Agency, Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, (MBB-ILB) Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, RBB – Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, Koi-Studio, New Europe Film Sales, Slovak Film Commission, Kerekes Film, FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA AUDIOVISUAL FUND / FVG AUDIOVISUAL FUND
Maryna VrodaUkraine
Festivals & Awards
Locarno Official Competition 2023 – premiere
Best Director – Concorso Internazionale
FIPRESCI Award
Junior Jury Awards – Special Mention
press quotes
“Maryna Vroda’s richly lensed feature debut is a melancholic look at a dying part of north-eastern Ukraine that’s seemingly untouched by the present war, and while the narrative holds interest thanks especially to the protagonist, it’s the documentary-like scenes that are the film’s heart.”
“STEPNE confirms the talent of a courageous director with a deeply affecting approach. Melancholic yet hypnotic, Maryna Vroda’s debut feature film unearths the vestiges of a past needing to be examined in order to better understand the present, which is getting dangerously out of hand.”
“Wisely chosen by the director as custodians of a story to be preserved at all costs, the “real” inhabitants of STEPNE feed into the main story, enriching it with a strange and ferocious poetry of truth.”
“Maryna Vroda’s debut feature film isn’t just a story about grief and goodbyes, it’s also about the resilience of a people who have experienced hell but have since managed to find their own gold in the solidarity of common people.”
“STEPNE is a cinematic gem brought to life by unprecedented storytelling, exceptional cinematography, a well-executed narrative, and outstanding performances from the cast. It successfully captures and projects the life and spirit of STEPNE, leaving audiences across the globe spellbound.’“
”STEPNE, an enthralling motion picture presenting at the Locarno Film Festival 2023, is undoubtedly a cinematic masterpiece that leaves an indelible imprint on the viewer’s psyche.”
“The cinematography of STEPNE is a visual delight. (…) Each scene in the film is skillfully shot, the exquisite beauty of the landscape acting as a harmonious backdrop to the poignant narrative.”
“STEPNE deserves credit for its realistic portrayal of a little-known face of Ukraine, and for the convincing performances.”
“At times, the movie feels like an observational, almost sensory documentary,
a fly-on-the-wall type of register.”
