Dovbush

Ukrainian history is rich. Lots of heroes, legends, epic events worth an adaption. Finally one of them came alive.

18th century. Oleksa Dovbush - kind of a Carpathian Robin Hood. He robs feudal lords, helps poor villagers. He's got a bounty on his head. Competition between him and his brother, forbidden love - all here.

Classic plot, yet entertaining to watch.

Carpathian scenery by itself is a character. Mysterious, foggy and beautiful. It's an interesting thing to observe, how Dovbush and his opryshki (name of rebels' group) set ambushes and fight, using their perfect mountain landscape knowledge.

As for the battle scenes - that's another achievement. Normally, you won't get really large scale battles, however fight choreography is good and realistic.

Overall, movie is beautifully shot and intriguing historic adventure.

Dovbush is a technically competent film that impresses visually, especially with its mountain scenes. Despite a relatively low budget (by international standards), it manages to blend legends and myths about Oleksa Dovbush into an entertaining package. However, this blend is where the film stumbles, presenting a loosely connected mix of random retellings.

Apparently realizing the story lacked cohesion, the filmmakers chose to inject Pirates of the Caribbean-esque vibes, quirky humor, and intense action. This artistic decision makes for easy viewing if you're not too concerned with character motivation, coherence, or traditional script structure. The "final revenge battle" occurs prematurely, leaving the film without a strong climax.

Despite its flaws, Dovbush wasn't a bad film. As a Ukrainian, I was pleasantly surprised by my compatriots' ability to deliver a reasonably competent production. It wasn't as politically charged as I expected, though some character depictions might still ruffle feathers (despite the creators' attempts to distance themselves from controversy in the intro credits).

Should non-Ukrainians watch it? Possibly. Will they be sufficiently entertained? Probably not. While the film does a good job playing with Carpathian legends and myths, the lack of a comprehensive storyline significantly undermines its overall impact.

Captivating story from the European history, where a Robin Hood like leader of XVIII Ukrainian rebels stands against the oppressive Polish nobles. First thing why you should watch this film is scenery, it is simply out of this world. The film also conveys folk traditions in Ukrainian Carpathians and is done multi-lingual, which makes it very realistic. There are many side lines to the main plot, which makes the film captivating. The battle scenes are very professional, but I wouldn't recommend them to be seen by kids, as they're quite bloody. Interestingly, the film also shows Dovbush meeting Baal Shem Tov, a founder of Hassidic Judaism, though it's not explicitly mentioned in the film. Overall impression very good, much recommended!

Dovbush is the story of the legendary Ukrainian opryshok Oleksa Dovbush, which captures not only the beauty of the Carpathian landscapes but also the skillfully recreated atmosphere of the struggle for justice and freedom. The film immerses the viewer in the complex world of the eighteenth-century Hutsul region, where ordinary people rise up against oppressors, believing in strength and honor. The director has captured the spirit of Ukrainian folklore extremely accurately, giving the story an epic scale. The acting is impressive, especially in the main roles - in every movement you can feel the devotion to the idea and understanding of the importance of this figure for Ukrainian culture. Although the plot is sometimes a bit slow, this is compensated for by the attention to detail and insightful moments that emphasize the courage and deep feelings of the characters. Dovbush is an impressive tribute to the past and a powerful reminder of the value of national identity. Eight out of ten for the authenticity, atmosphere, and inspiration this story provides.

This film is a testament to practical filmmaking, with a small (~USD$4m, 2018) budget, the talented filmmakers created amazing scenes, sets, costumes, and action scenes that kept me eagerly waiting for what's next.

The action was incredibly well choreographed and executed, and not to mention just downright fun to watch.

The practical effects were simple, well executed, and incredibly effective. I couldn't find any obvious CGI, and I was just blown away by the action scenes.

The chemistry of the actors was perfect and the performances were all top notch.

I was honestly surprised with how funny it was. The dialogue was often hilarious, and most jokes translated very well into English.

I watched this with someone fluent in Ukrainian, and they said the subtitle translations were very well done. I often find subtitles aren't translated properly and it can distract, but it was very well done.

I'd wager, it's a film that will put Ukrainian filmmaking onto the map.

SLAVA UKRAINI!