Stop-Zemlia

The screenplay is outstanding, close-up cinematography, perfect music, and good actor play. This movie could bring us back to the time when we were 16.

There's a heartbreaking moment in Stop, Zemlia! (a game that goes a bit like Pin a Tail) when most of the movie's teenage protagonists go to a gun-shooting demo put on by the Army. It's as if they were preparing for what's happening to them now, and getting their high-schoolers ready for combat. While the movie is not about the fate of the Ukraine, it makes watching this tale of angst-ridden adolescence all the more poignant. Turns out Ukrainian kids have the same problems ours do: cutting, depression, drugs, bullying, too much phone time, ADD; but in Kateryna Gornostai's superbly deft, loving portrait of her subjects, they do so with endearing, eloquence, and even a stoic, humorous charm you won't be able to resist. This is not a Marvel caper, so don't expect pace, or even plot. This is a tender slice of teenage life, reminiscent perhaps of Richard Linklater's "Boyhood", and in its more documentary moments, of Mike Mills's C'mon C'mon. You need to be patient, open, and willing to risk discomfort to watch this movie, the way you might be with your at-home teen. The rewards will be abundant. An uplifting and deeply affecting debut.

Kateryna Gornostai, an aspiring director with solid documentary background, presents a delicate insight into the emotional life of high-schoolers. All her teenage actors had been picked through in-depth interviews and underwent a two-months-long series of workshops before they were finally approved as their characters. This helps us understand the nature of the movie, not much of a drama, but a careful character study employing the documentary toolset, combined with incredible camera work, organic acting, and meticulous editing to create an immersive and believable picture. I was deeply moved by Gornostai's delicate and loving manner of dealing with teenage insecurity, which I wish I could have experienced myself as a 16-year-old.

I heard a lot of bad reviews about this movie, and went to another city to watch it.

What can I say - people who said it's boring forgot their adolescence.

If I could give it mark, it would be 11/10, bc they were real children (teenagers actually) with real problems of our society, and most of times they just stay silent - and you feel their emotions through screen.

Characters are not good or bad here - they are alive.

And this movie touched my soul - like emotional tornado - and that's what is mean to be teenager.

Somewhere in 15 minutes. I asked my friends this art, isn't the woman the director of the "masterpiece" ?! Lots of psychological twists, empty dialogues and lack of plot. The game of actors is the bottom, and the main character Masha this role - a complete failure. Her brother could not master even a short scene in the school canteen - we have many talented and gifted children in drama clubs and theater studios! Why are these talentless zeros on the screens? Protracted sophisticated dialogues, Russisms and mothers were supposed to shock the audience and show the gray world of teenagers, but showed the limitations and poverty of the director. Watch the trailers before paying for the ticket!)