Atlantis

Atlantis is set in a totally shattered Ukraine after an extensive war against Russia. The year is 2025, and the war veteran Sergiy has lost both his family and the hope for a better future in the war. He spends his days working at a steel mill and practicing shooting with his friend Ivan, who struggles with PTSD. Their apathetic life is turned upside down when the factory is closed down, and Sergiy finds a new job bringing clean water to the areas troubled by pollution due to the war. Here, he gets acquainted with Katya, who introduces him to the organization “Black Tulips”, whose volunteers are digging up and identifying bodies from the war.

Lingering, dystopian and gloomy are three key words that describes Valentyn Vasyanovych’s film Atlantis, which won the Horizon Prize at Venice Film Festival in 2019. These may not be the most obvious selling points, but Atlantis is also powerful in its portrayal of a post-war country in economic and moral ruin. Visually striking tableaus and interpersonal relationships containing small glimpses of hope works as counterparts to the darkness, and the result is an outstanding meditation about the aftermath of war.

Director’s bio:

Valentyn Vasyanovych (b. 1971) is from Ukraine and has worked as a director and producer for many years. He is educated as a cinematographer and director from the university in Karpenko-Kary, and later Andrzej Wajda film school in Poland. Vasyanovych’s previous work includes Zvychayna sprava (2012), Kredens (2013) and Riven chornoho (2017). Atlantis won the Horizon-prize during Venice Film Festival in 2019.