The Guide

A testimony. this is the basic meaning of this admirable film. a blind man. a boy. Ukraine in the "30's. the geography of a world under dictatorship. and great cinematography. it is enough for describe a film escaping from the circle of worlds. because it is not exactly the film of a story. but a bitter remember. about a society. about a gray past. about a blind man. and a boy. in middle of embroidery of symbols.

This movie is one of the few that impartially present the difficult times Ukraine found itself in during the 1930's. The times of massive repressions and executions of the civilian population, murder by forced starvation, and persecution of anyone who disagreed with the Soviet government in Moscow.

Basic knowledge of Eastern European history of the early 20th century would greatly help to see what links certain events together.

I suggest you read the synopsis before watching the movie to have a better understanding of the events that take place. Their true historical weight is what really gives them a deeper meaning.

When I heard about this movie in the first time, sincerely, I was intrigued. Ukrainian film production is surviving sphere, but indeed it can produce GOOD movies, with unexpected, not trivial plot, strong and mysterious characters, dramatic end.

This film has it's soul too. Minstrel's songs, chaotic escaping and changing of epochs in totalitarian empire via pure eyes of ten-year boy...

This film deserves to be watched. Definitely.

P.S. Maybe You don't know, but in real life NKVD chief's surname is Kobzar (minstrel). And. I await the next generation of Ukrainian films: about Kyiv Rus, Zaporozhian Host, epic and big-budget. Soon.

This film's background is the Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. It is a story of a 10 year old boy who is separated from his American father after the father is assassinated by Soviet NKVD agents for possessing documentation that reveal the atrocities that were being committed by the ruling communist party in Russia/Soviet Union. Millions of people were perishing from the forced famine that the Soviet government enforced to collectivize the farming community. The plot revolves around the boy's attempt to survive in Ukraine and get back to his home in the United States. He is aided by a blind minstrel (Kobzar). The story is a heart wrenching view of life under the Russian/Soviet communist dictatorship. The scenery is beautiful, the plot is mesmerizing and the acting is superb. I give it 10 stars.

ZJ Kossak

Set in the 1930s, during the Holodomor, the film shows the struggle for survival and preservation of cultural heritage through the story of an American boy and a blind kobzar who becomes his mentor and guide in a world that is crumbling under the pressure of Soviet repression. The film skillfully conveys an atmosphere of fear, oppression, and hope at the same time, using poetic images of the Ukrainian land, music, and kobza songs. The actors' performances are extremely insightful, especially in the role of the blind musician, who symbolizes the strength of spirit and devotion to his land. Despite certain dramatic elements that may seem a bit excessive, The Guide impresses with its sincerity and deep immersion in historical memory. Eight out of ten for its emotionality, visual power, and the importance of a subject that reminds us of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit.