Despite honourable intentions, this film addressing the Stalin-inflicted 1932-33 genocide in Ukraine is at times embarrassingly bad
At least Bitter Harvest’s release date is relatively timely, given the recent focus in the news on Russia’s brutally aggressive, expansive ambitions. Putin may be accused of killing, but he’s got nothing on Joseph Stalin who instigated the genocide via famine of some 10 million Ukrainians in 1932-33, an atrocity now known at the Holodomor. This drama by director/co-writer George Mendeluk is one of the very few western films to address the subject, and while one may applaud the intention, the execution is markedly uneven.
Max Irons stars as Yuri, a Cossack’s son with dreamy eyes and notable daddy issues who deeply loves feisty local beauty Natalka (Samantha Barks). Not long after their marriage, Stalin (incarnated by Gary Oliver in cutaway scenes, practically twiddling his bushy, fake moustache) comes...
At least Bitter Harvest’s release date is relatively timely, given the recent focus in the news on Russia’s brutally aggressive, expansive ambitions. Putin may be accused of killing, but he’s got nothing on Joseph Stalin who instigated the genocide via famine of some 10 million Ukrainians in 1932-33, an atrocity now known at the Holodomor. This drama by director/co-writer George Mendeluk is one of the very few western films to address the subject, and while one may applaud the intention, the execution is markedly uneven.
Max Irons stars as Yuri, a Cossack’s son with dreamy eyes and notable daddy issues who deeply loves feisty local beauty Natalka (Samantha Barks). Not long after their marriage, Stalin (incarnated by Gary Oliver in cutaway scenes, practically twiddling his bushy, fake moustache) comes...
- 2/23/2017
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Set in 1930s Ukraine, George Mendeluk’s historical drama “Bitter Harvest” follows the story of young lovers Yuri (Max Irons) and Natalka (Samantha Barks), who fall victims to Stalin’s genocidal policies.
Yuri, a very talented young artist, will do anything — including enduring famine, imprisonment and torture — to save his childhood sweetheart from the Holodomor, the death-by-starvation program that killed millions of Ukrainians. What follows is a wrenching love story with some startling real world implications.
Read More: Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke in Aisling Walsh’s Biopic, ‘Maudie’ — Trailer
“Bitter Harvest” was filmed on location in Ukraine. Mendeluk co-wrote the screenplay with Richard Bachynsky-Hoover, based on Bachynsky-Hoover’s original story. Bachynsky-Hoover also serves as one of the executive producers of the film. The cast also includes Gary Oliver in the role Staling, Barry Pepper as Yaroslav, Tamer Hassan as Sergei, and Terence Stamp as Ivan.
“Bitter Harvest” will be...
Yuri, a very talented young artist, will do anything — including enduring famine, imprisonment and torture — to save his childhood sweetheart from the Holodomor, the death-by-starvation program that killed millions of Ukrainians. What follows is a wrenching love story with some startling real world implications.
Read More: Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke in Aisling Walsh’s Biopic, ‘Maudie’ — Trailer
“Bitter Harvest” was filmed on location in Ukraine. Mendeluk co-wrote the screenplay with Richard Bachynsky-Hoover, based on Bachynsky-Hoover’s original story. Bachynsky-Hoover also serves as one of the executive producers of the film. The cast also includes Gary Oliver in the role Staling, Barry Pepper as Yaroslav, Tamer Hassan as Sergei, and Terence Stamp as Ivan.
“Bitter Harvest” will be...
- 2/22/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Sharp-eyed viewers who saw the first episode of History's ratings blockbuster "The Bible," in which patriarch Abraham (Gary Oliver) pleaded with God -- seen only in long soft-focus, from the side or from the back -- to spare the sinful city of Sodom for the sake of a few righteous men that might be living there, might be surprised when Jesus finally appears in this Sunday's two-hour episode.
They may notice that the figure that Abraham was addressing looks rather like Christ, played by Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado.
According to executive producer Mark Burnett, this was no accident.
"Let's put it this way," Burnett tells Zap2it, when asked about the resemblance, "Jesus is hidden throughout the Old Testament, and he's revealed in the New Testament. That's what we believe. Clearly, we know from the Bible that no one can physically see God, except in the physical sense, when he was Jesus,...
They may notice that the figure that Abraham was addressing looks rather like Christ, played by Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado.
According to executive producer Mark Burnett, this was no accident.
"Let's put it this way," Burnett tells Zap2it, when asked about the resemblance, "Jesus is hidden throughout the Old Testament, and he's revealed in the New Testament. That's what we believe. Clearly, we know from the Bible that no one can physically see God, except in the physical sense, when he was Jesus,...
- 3/16/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
Network: NBC, Syfy
Episodes: 65 (hour)
Seasons: Five
TV show dates: June 21, 2009 -- Tbd
Series status: Cancelled or Ending
Performers include: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, John Hurt, Richard Wilson, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Michelle Ryan, Caroline Faber, Michael Cronin, David Durham, Gary Oliver, Rick English, and Ed Coleman.
TV show description:
A drama series that brings a new take to the story of Merlin (Colin Morgan), the sorcerer of Arthurian legend.
In this version, the mythical kingdom of Camelot is a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people, a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the stern and protective king, Uther Pendragon (Anthony Stewart Head).
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies -- including the heir...
Episodes: 65 (hour)
Seasons: Five
TV show dates: June 21, 2009 -- Tbd
Series status: Cancelled or Ending
Performers include: Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, John Hurt, Richard Wilson, Katie McGrath, Angel Coulby, Michelle Ryan, Caroline Faber, Michael Cronin, David Durham, Gary Oliver, Rick English, and Ed Coleman.
TV show description:
A drama series that brings a new take to the story of Merlin (Colin Morgan), the sorcerer of Arthurian legend.
In this version, the mythical kingdom of Camelot is a fantastical realm of legendary beasts and mysterious people, a dangerous world where magic has been banned by the stern and protective king, Uther Pendragon (Anthony Stewart Head).
When Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, arrives in the kingdom, he quickly makes enemies -- including the heir...
- 11/26/2012
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
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