167. Pamfir; movie review

 

PAMFIR

Cert 15

103 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence, threat, sex, language, drug misuse

In the 21st century, is it really possible that people still live as close to the edge as those portrayed in Pamfir?

This is a story of violence and corruption, intertwined with the keen bond of family.

It stars Oleksandr Yatsentyuk as Leonid, aka Pamfir, a former smuggler who returns to his home on the Ukrainian border after working away for several years.

Despite his reputation as a hard man, he now wants to earn an honest living to set an example for his son (Stanislav Potiak).

However, he soon comes up against a lethal combination of religious leaders and crime lords who make avoiding his past impossible.

The village in which Pamfir is set leans heavily on tradition and its wild pagan festival, in which people dress up in rather intimidating garb, is taken very seriously.

Indeed, it adds to the feeling of darkness and danger.

Meanwhile, despite external pressures, Leonid simply wants to be left alone with his devoted wife (Solomiia Kyrylova) and son.

The most exciting element of Pamfir for me is its backdrop.

Only forests and tunnels divide Ukraine and Romania and only obvious way of making serious money is illegal trade between them.

But this is also a land where aggressive music and dance are part of the culture and provide cover for multiple sins.

Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk's film is original and riveting. Yatsentyuk plays the title role with aplomb.

Reasons to watch: Dark and riveting

Reasons to avoid: Some tough violence

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Before February 2022, Russian and Ukrainian criminal groups and networks controlled a lucrative transnational smuggling highway between Russia and Western Europe that carried gold, timber, tobacco, coal, counterfeit/untaxed goods, humans and drugs

The final word. Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk: "I think that, in our country, it doesn’t matter if it’s a filmmaker or a businessman or a person with a regular job—it’s a break, and it’s made our existence into “before war” and “after war.” Before the war, I was a filmmaker, but now everybody is a volunteer." Film Comment

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