''Viddana'' () is a Polish- Ukrainian

feature film A feature film or feature-length film (often abbreviated to feature), also called a theatrical film, is a film (Film, motion picture, "movie" or simply “picture”) with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole present ...

based on the novel '' Felix Austria'' by Ukrainian author Sofia Andrukhovych. Starring Marianna Januszewicz in the lead role as Stefania Czorneńko, the film follows Stefania and her relationship with Adele, with whom she grew up and now works for as a maid.

Plot summary

The film is a historical drama which takes place in the 19th century in the

Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, also known as Austrian Galicia or colloquially Austrian Poland, was a constituent possession of the Habsburg monarchy in the historical region of Galicia (Eastern Europe), Galicia in Eastern Europe. The Cr ...

, a part of the

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military and diplomatic alliance, it consist ...

. It begins in the city of Stanislav in 1868, when a fire destroys the home of Dr. Anger. His wife is killed, but he is able to rescue his daughter Adela and the daughter of a servant, Stephania Czorneńko. Dr. Anger raises them together, and the film jumps forward 25 years. The remainder of the film follows Stefania and her relationship with Adele, with whom she grew up with and now works for as a maid. The film uses their friendship and understanding as a frame for the inequality which is seen in the background throughout the movie.

Production

The film is the directorial debut for Christina Sivolap and has been cited as one of the first Ukrainian production with European ambitions, with its source being translated into multiple languages and the movie attempting to appeal to an international audience through its cinematography. Singers

Tina Karol Tetiana Hryhorivna Liberman (born 25 January 1985), better known by her stage name Tina Karol, is a Ukrainian singer and founder of the Tina Karol Charitable Foundation, Tina Karol charitable foundation. In 2006, she was chosen to represent Uk ...

and Yulia Sanina, of the band The Hardkiss, collaborated on a duet to create a part of the soundtrack of the movie. Filming lasted 30 days, and was shot in

Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

Chernivtsi Chernivtsi (, ; , ;, , see also #Names, other names) is a city in southwestern Ukraine on the upper course of the Prut River. Formerly the capital of the historic region of Bukovina, which is now divided between Romania and Ukraine, Chernivt ...

Bila Tserkva Bila Tserkva ( ; , ) is a city in central Ukraine. It is situated on the Ros (river), Ros River in the historical region of right-bank Ukraine. It is the largest city in Kyiv Oblast (which does not include the city of Kyiv) and serves as the ...

, and Nizhylovychi. 34 actors and more than 500 extras were involved in the movie. Its cinematography was directed by Oleksiy Lamakh and Oleksandr Batenev, and the script was written by Alina Semeryakova. The film's composer is musician Yevhen Filatov. The first soundtrack to the film was the song "Boat" by the band Odyn v kanoe, which debuted with the first teaser, in a new arrangement written by Filatov. On December 12, 2019, the second soundtrack to the film Free was presented, with lyrics by rapper

Alyona Alyona Aliona Olehivna Savranenko (; born 14 June 1991), better known by her stage name Alyona Alyona (; stylized in all lowercase), is a Ukrainian rapper, singer, and songwriter. She released her debut album, ''Pushka'' (), in 2019, followed by an ex ...

and a duet by

and Yulia Sanina (lead singer of The Hardkiss).

References

{{Reflist Ukrainian-language films