Features of Ukrainian-Slovak smuggling. Film “Border” was screened in Uzhgorod

The film about what is familiar to every Transcarpathian – the border and smuggling – caused a huge hype in the regional center of the westernmost region of Ukraine.

On August 29, the Slovak-Ukrainian film "Border" directed by Peter Bebjak was presented in the "Domion" cinema in Uzhgorod.      

The shooting took place in Transcarpathia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. That is why Uzhgorod became the first city where the film was shown (the premiere in the capital will take place in autumn). The world-wide release of the film "Border" started in Slovakia, where over 300,000 people watched the film in the first three weeks. In addition, for the first time in many years, the film represented Ukraine in the main competition program of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, which is included in the list of "A" festivals, where it won one of the main prizes – "Crystal Globe" for the best directorial work.

Actor Rimma Zyubina from Uzhgorod added: "I hope that Transcarpathians were interested to see how we worked with Slovak filmmakers. After all, this topic concerns everyone here. Because here people know about life in the border area very well." And although her role in the film was small, she feels honored to have worked on this project. Yevhen Libeznyuk plays her husband – smuggler Jona.

Actor Andy Grits plays a Slovak corrupt policeman, well-known Volodymyr Helyas plays another smuggler. They came to Uzhgorod for the premiere. They were welcomed by representatives of the city and regional authorities, the Department of Culture of the RSA, friends. There were even border guards among the audience.

After the screening, there was applause, informal meeting with actors, emotions, feedback.    The audience also learned some details about the shooting process. That they changed 40 locations in 36 days, that in Karlovy Vary, our Rimma Zyubina was greeted with louder ovations than the famous actress Uma Thurman, and that international film critics have already compared "Border" with world bestsellers such as "The Godfather" and "The Sopranos".

Finally, we have a Ukrainian film. Not just Ukrainian, but also good. Andy Grits said before the show: "If you don’t like something, don’t tell anyone but us. But if you like it, then tell everyone." We want to tell everyone for hours. Bravo!