At 2025 Oscars, Poland to showcase film about Ukrainian family's early days of Russian invasion

Poland has selected its representative for the 2025 Oscars, choosing Damian Kocur's film Under the Volcano. It tells the story of a Ukrainian family during the onset of the full-scale invasion. The lead parts are played by Ukrainian actors. The world premiere of the drama recently took place at the Toronto Film Festival.

Source: Deadline 

The screenplay for the film was written by Damian Kocur and Marta Konarzewska. The cinematographer is Mykyta Kuzmenko, known for his work on the films Pamfir and Living Fire. The lead roles are played by Ukrainian actors Roman Lutskyi, Anastasia Karpenko, Sofia Berezovska, and Fedir Puhachov.

The film tells the story of the Kovalenko family, who are on vacation in Tenerife. While there, they learn about the onset of the full-scale invasion and effectively transform from tourists into refugees, remaining on the island. The narrative is presented from the perspective of their 16-year-old daughter, Sofiia.

Quote: "The state of surprise, uncertainty, and loss intensifies family conflicts... The film, presented in an ascetic form, touches on the most difficult topics of our time – war and migration – leaving the viewer with the feeling that each of us could find ourselves under a volcano waking up... Unresolved conflicts surface, and the fear experienced by family members blends with a sense of guilt," notes the Polish Oscar committee.

Next week, the film Under the Volcano will open the 49th Polish Film Festival in Gdynia.

Background:

• The Ukrainian Oscar Committee met on Monday, 9 September to choose the film that will represent Ukraine at the 97th Academy Awards presented by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Ukraine will be represented in the Best International Feature Film category by Philip Sotnychenko's film La Palisiada.
• Sotnychenko's film tells the story of a forensic psychiatrist who must participate in the investigation of a police officer's murder. The authorities are eager to close the case before the death penalty is abolished, but the doctor is uncertain about the defendant's culpability. The events took place in 1996, just a few months before the signing of Protocol No. 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which stipulated the abolition of the death penalty.

Support UP or become our patron!