Wolyn (2016) Reviews

• Prepare yourself for sleepless night

  ktrelski2016-11-06

  When I went to see this movie I thought I know everything about the events this picture is based on. I have heard that the movie will show them without any censorship. However, I was not prepared for the real horror of those events. The movie is graphic, but it does not go overboard. It does, however touch your soul. If you ever asked yourself what the real terror looks like, this is it. What makes it tough is that the terror is brought to you by the people you know well, your next door neighbors, your spouse or even your brother. Do not expect anybody laughing or even talking after the movie is over. It is a great movie. Don't miss it.

• Extremely Heavy And Gloomy, But Terrific

  denis8882017-04-08

  Well, where to begin. Films about genocide, especially such touchy subject as Polish-Ukranian relations in 1939-1943 in the region of Wolyn, are not an easy treat. The very theme of mass murder and brotherly hate is never easy, so this epic film about mass atrocities of Poles in Wolyn leaves a very heavy heart. If you are afraid of ferocious scenes, blood, dismembered bodies, mutilated kids or burned villages, then don't. Don't try to watch this film. It is awesome, it is executed with a n utmost precision and the tempo is impeccable, but it is way too difficult to see all those horrible scenes and what is even more horrid is the fact that it's never going to be easier, but only heavier and gloomier and worse for main hero and her suffering family. I will not retell the events of this film, just want to say - be warned and watch this at your discretion, as this is a very very severe and naked fear film. It demands all your patience and certain amount of guts, yes, guts, since the bloody scenes are really frightening. Need I say more? This is a masterpiece, truly so.

• Horrible things shouldn't happen

  jingtuzi3332017-04-24

  I must say that I'm shocked by this movie. Massacre usually happens during invasion, for example Japan did several massacres to China including the Nanjing Massacre （which Japan still doesn't admit）. But this one happened in Wolyn is even worse, because it happened between neighborhoods, they were living together, harvesting together, marrying to each other, then someday UPA came, everything changed. I saw the very worst of human nature inspired by the nationalism. All good thing slaughtered.

• Time and place where genocide was inevitable. Torn communities and families.

  marczynskitomasz2016-10-11

  Dire, thick atmosphere of waiting for massacre you knew that will happen. Pure terror unleashed at night, when neighbors come to kill you in one hundred different ways preceded by showing how this community was like at time of peace. You would not think that it is really possible. Marriages, working together, social space and to some degree language is common. But there are some differences on both sides... Dmytro Klyachkivsky citation: "We should make a large action of the liquidation of the Polish element." To understand this film properly you need some historic and psychological (Lucifer effect) background. I am certain that when reversed things would have gone south anyway. Wolyn (Volhynia) is historic region where poles and Ruthenians lived peacefully for centuries (by that I mean peasants). Around XVII century Poland gained more territory in what today is called Ukraine. Polish noble class assimilated Ruthenian (today Ukrainian) noble class. One of Ruthenians even become elected king of the Commonwealth of Polish and Lithuania. Wolyn alone was in polish rule from XIV century. This whole territory east of Wolyn and including Wolyn was a place where polish peasant run away from polish noble class (szlachta) rule and mixed with local Ruthenian population. Commonwealth wanted to suppress those people. Thousands of them remained on king payroll as soldiers - so they knew how to fight. Those people responded accordingly with Chmielnicki uprisings, killing Poles and assimilated Ruthenian nobles. Century of bloodshed ended by Russian subjugating most of these lands. This is why eastern Ukraine (Russian rule) is different from western Ukraine (Polish rule). Era of nationalism resulted in Ukrainian National Revival when Ukrainian people gained new identity and were distancing from Polish and Russian cultures. In interbellum period in Poland unfortunately won the idea of unity - Ukrainians and Belorussians was to be assimilated into Polish culture (there was project of creating Polish, Belorussian and Ukrainian separated states in confederation) Ukrainians responded with violence. And film starts when this period is about to end. Firstly Russians witch to this date see Ukraine as "little Russia" in a derogatory way) and next Germans which promised own state to Ukrainians. Ukraine had seen Hitler as they savior in a way. Organisation born from this feelings decided that Wolyn must be ethnically cleansed to ensure Ukrainian nature of this region in future. That's when Lucifer Effect starts to sink in. Same was in Tutsi - Hutu case.

• Brilliant scenography, touchy story line

  piotrmarciniec2016-10-10

  I must say that I really love that film. I have heard almost nothing prior to watching this film, about movie itself. However I am very familiar with those events at south-east of Poland. I love how Smarzowski managed to replicate climate of these ages, the bond between polish and ukrainian community and its slow corruption within the time. Suddenly the the slavic peace full of tradition is brutally interrupted by Germans aggression followed by russians one. obviously polish people were victims slaughtered by ukrainian peasants, but there is much more in this movie. all bad things what happens durring wwII are shown here, sometimes very graphic - but the truth was even worse. I enjoy the storyline, miracle survivors and the fact the human life price was close to nothing. The only flaw I must say, its bit small attention given to so called AK - polish underground army. they were haunted mercilessly by both sides Germans and russians and they were stuck between their commit to national cause and defending its citizens - however I understand this might be good theme for the separate movie.