Section: Spectrum

PAMFIR

PAMFIR

Dmytro Sukholytky-Sobchuk
UA/FR/PL/DE/CL , 2022, 108 Min

Pamfir, a top-rate smuggler and village hero, is back in his home village on the Ukrainian-Romanian border after many a year spent abroad. And yet, in order to protect his family, he returns to his petty criminal existence and takes on a corrupt local ruler in this fast-paced drama that incorporates elements of timeless parable, classic adventure film and folklore western.

A village in western Ukraine. Smuggling and passed-down celebrations enjoy a long tradition here. Malanka is approaching, a festival at which men in straw robes wearing fearsome masks perform. Returnee Pamfir, who has spent an extended period in Poland in order to earn money, is also back. His devout wife wants him to stay, his teenage son Nazar needs a strong father figure. A fire breaks out in the local church and the priest knows that Nazar started it. Once a successful smuggler, Pamfir takes on a risky assignment to pay off his debts. The times have changed however: A new local mafioso has the corrupt police and church under his control and nevertheless Pamfir makes a stand against him... Rich in symbolism and folklore, this visually expressive tale from Ukraine, a fatalistic drama, operates both as a modern robber film and a parable of hierarchical structures far removed from modern city life.

Text: Jörg Taszman
English: Peter Rickerby

Weltspiegel (large hall): original version with English subtitles + German simultaneous translation

Drehbuch
Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk
Kamera
Nikita Kuzmenko
Ton
Serhiy Stepanskyy, Matthieu Deniau
Schnitt
Nikodem Chabior
Musik
Laetitia Pansanel-Garric
Darsteller
Oleksandr Yatsentyuk, Stanislav Potiak, Solomiya Kyrylova, Olena Khokhlatkina, Myroslav Makoviychuk, Ivan Sharan
Produzent
Aleksandraa Kostina
Produktion
Bosonfilm
Dmytro Sukholytky-Sobchuk

Dmytro Sukholytky-Sobchuk - is a Ukrainian author andfilmmaker, graduated from the Kyiv National I.K. Karpenko-KaryTheatre, Cinema and Television University. Participant of theBerlinale Talents, Locarno Film Academy, he is the founder of thescript platform Terrarium. He was first noticed with his short filmWeighlifter, a EFA contender, winner of the Best Short FilmAward in Angers. His first feature, Pamfir, was supported byTorinoFilmLab, MIDPOINT and Cannes’ Cinéfondation.

Movies
PAMFIR 2022, Feature - Cannes, Directors’ Fortnight
WEIGHTLIFTER, 2018, Short
INTERSECTION, 2015, Short
KRASNA MALANKA, 2013, TV Documentary
THE BEARD, 2012, Short
ADOLESCENCE, 2008, Short
more movies you may be interested in

ANOTHER GERMAN TANK STORY

ANOTHER GERMAN TANK STORY