FILMS

Director: Kateryna Gornostai

Starring: Maria Fedorchenko, Yana Isaienko, Oleksandr Ivanov, Arsenii Markov

Ukraine, 2020, 2 hours 2 minutes, subtitles 

 

A sharp, sympathetic story of self-discovery set amongst a group of teenagers in contemporary Ukraine. While waiting to graduate, quiet non-conformist Masha hangs out with her best friends, goofs around with her classmates, parties, and falls in love. This sensitively embraces the hesitant vulnerability of teenage life, its social anxiety and the terrifying vastness of the future. Universal, accessible and convincing, the film cleverly blends in interviews with the young actors, giving another layer of authenticity to its reflections on the terrors, tears and tenderness of teenage life.

 

“Contemplative, naturalistic, and compassionate filmmaking . . . a little film festival gem“ One Room With A View

 

“It’s as universal as it gets. Stop-Zemlia explores the realm of teenagers in the contemporary world with sensitive and intriguing insight.” Flickfeast

 

Berlin International Film Festival Crystal Bear of the Youth Jury

 

UK online premiere