Our Kitties

Last updated

"Our Kitties" or "Lethal Kittens" (full title: "Our Kitties or How We Learned to Love Shovels in Conditions of a Limited Anti-Terrorist Operation with Elements of Temporary Martial Law"), working titles "Bunker" and "Kitten with Burning Eyes", is a co-produced Ukrainian comedy film directed by Volodymyr Tyhyi about the adventures of Ukrainian army soldiers during the Russian-Ukrainian war in Eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Contents

The film's slogan is "a patriotic politically incorrect comedy, Our Kitties". The film was released in Ukrainian cinemas on 30 January 2020.

Synopsis

The events of the film take place in 2014 at the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war. It is a tragicomic story of the adventures of three Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) soldiers during their combat rotation in the "most remote" position on the front line. The film is based on real-life stories of volunteer fighters and Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The main characters are an engineer, an actor, a football coach, and a flower seller, who volunteer to join the war. An ambitious journalist, who is on a secret mission, joins them at their position. None of the fighters have combat experience, know nothing about the intentions of the command, and are unfamiliar with the terrain. [1] However, it is these characters who become the cause of a grandiose failure in the enemy's large-scale operation. Courage, bravery, a bit of hypnosis, and trademark humor create an explosive mixture for a "warm welcome."

Production

Budget

Director and screenplay writer Volodymyr Tykhyi, together with the co-producer of the film Marko Suprun, hoped to secure most of the funding for the film through a patriotic pitch at the Ministry of Culture in 2018. In June 2018, the film, then titled "Blinzash" (Bunker), participated in the competitive selection of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for receiving state financial support for the production and distribution of patriotic films. [2] With an average score of 32.9, the film did not make it to the list of 69 films that would receive financial support from the Ministry of Culture. [3] [4] The creators of the film requested a state financial support of ₴36 million (80% of the initial budget of ₴45 million) from the Ministry of Culture. [5] [6] After the announcement of the results of the patriotic pitch, Volodymyr Tykhyi publicly expressed his disagreement with the outcomes, stating that he disagreed with the composition of the expert commission, which was composed of representatives from television and film sales, including Star Media and Film.ua, who produce most of their content in Russian for Russia. [7]

Later, in June 2019, the film, then titled "Lethal Kittens," became the winner of the pitching competition organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation (UCF) for the completion of film production and promotional campaign. The film received 239.5 points from UCF experts. [8] The creators received ₴8.9 million from the UCF for the completion of film production and the promotional campaign, which amounted to 21.12% of the final budget (the initial budget proposal for post-production and promotion was ₴12.7 million). [9] [10]

In July 2019, the film, still under the working title "Lethal Kittens," became the winner of the eleventh competitive selection by the State Film Agency. The total budget for the film was initially stated as ₴40.4 million, and the creators requested ₴7.3 million from the State Film Agency. [11] However, in the final result, the creators received financial support of only ₴0.98 million (2.33% of the final budget). [12] [13] Additionally, the State Film Agency partially funded the film's promotional campaign with a grant of ₴400,000 (10.8% of the total promotional campaign budget). [14]

In total, the state (UCF, State Film Agency) sponsored ₴10.0 million (approximately 23.4% of the total final budget).

In addition to the state funding, producer Marko Suprun, through his film company Bedlam Productions, and Stepan Bandera Jr., through his film company Banesto Productions, managed to attract funds from private investors in the United States and Canada. [15] Former Acting Minister of Health of Ukraine, Ulyana Suprun, became one of the film's producers. [16]

Script and filming

Initially, the idea emerged to create a small series of short episodes within the framework of Babylon'13 and name it "Blindazh" (Bunker). In 2015, Tikhyy and former ATO participant Valeriy Puzik organized video materials, edited three episodes, and anticipated that the project would interest TV channels. However, this did not happen, and none of the Ukrainian TV channels showed interest. [15]

Later, the idea of making a feature film emerged, and Volodymyr Tikhyy wrote the script for the feature film in 2017–2018. [15]

The filming of the movie took place for three months in 2018–2019 in Chernihiv Oblast. Later, there was an additional week of reshoots for various details. [15] During filming in Chernihiv, an incident occurred when the creators were shooting a scene involving "militants" near the Donetsk Regional State Administration building. Local residents did not realize that it was a movie shoot and called the police. [17]

Post-production took 14 months.

Release

Initially, the film's creators planned for it to be released in Ukrainian cinemas in November 2019. [18]

The first trailer for the film was released on 1 October 2019, [19] followed by the second trailer on 22 November. The film was distributed by B&H, and its release took place on 30 January 2020. [20]

Advertising campaign

The creators of the film decided to launch a "viral advertising" campaign and filmed a whole series of videos using deepfake and editing techniques. These videos showcased fake reactions to the film's trailer from Russian politicians, such as Vladimir Zhirinovsky in the program "60 Minutes" on the Russian TV channel Russia-1, as well as fake videos featuring support for the film from well-known Hollywood actors, and more. [21] [22] [23]

Book

Based on the screenplay of the 2020 film, a book was written and published by Folio Publishers: [24]

Volodymyr Tykhyi, Valeriy Puzik. Nashi Kotyky. Blinzhazh. Kharkiv: Folio. 252 pages. ISBN   978-966-03-9117-8.

Related Research Articles

The Stronghold is a Ukrainian adventure/fantasy film based on the eponymous book by Volodymyr Rutkivskyi and directed by Yuriy Kovalyov. The film was released in Ukraine on 12 October 2017. The film is about Victor, a present-day schoolboy, who goes a thousand years into the past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olya Polyakova</span> Musical artist

Olha Yuriivna Polyakova is a Ukrainian singer, TV presenter, and comedian known as Super Blonde.

<i>Donbass</i> (film) 2018 film

Donbass is a 2018 internationally co-produced black comedy war film directed by Sergei Loznitsa. It was selected as the opening film in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, Loznitsa won the Un Certain Regard award for Best Director, as well as the Silver Pyramid at the 40th Cairo International Film Festival. It was selected as the Ukrainian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. It was filmed in Kryvyi Rih, 300 km west of separatist-occupied Donetsk. At the 49th International Film Festival of India it received the Main Prize - Golden Peacock for Best Feature Film.

Obozrevatel is a Ukrainian Internet publication of socio-political orientation, created in 2001. It belongs to Ukrainian politician and entrepreneur Mykhailo Brodskyy. In the publication, he holds the position of the chairman of the editorial board "Obozrevatel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nashi (political party)</span> Political party in Ukraine

Nashi, translated as Ours, was a political party in Ukraine registered February 2015. Since 2018, the party has been led by Yevheniy Murayev. On 14 June 2022 the party was banned by a court order.

The Ukrainian Film Academy is a Ukrainian association of experts and professionals in the field of cinema and film production. It was founded in 2017 to support and develop modern Ukrainian cinema. Since 2017, the Ukrainian Film Academy has been holding the prestigious "Golden Dzyga Film Awards" annual event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Dzyga</span> Ukrainian Film Academy Award

The "Golden Dzyga" is a Ukrainian national film award given for professional achievements in the development of Ukrainian cinema. Founded in 2017 by the Ukrainian Film Academy, the first awards ceremony took place on April 20, 2017, at the "Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv."

The Living Fire is a Ukrainian documentary film directed by Ostap Kostyuk. The film tells about the life of shepherds in the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains, and the fate of traditional skills in the context of the modern world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherkasy (film)</span> 2019 Ukrainian film

Cherkasy, also known as U311 Cherkasy, is a Ukrainian feature film directed by Tymur Yashchenko about the defense of the eponymous naval Natya-class minesweeper, blocked by Russian troops in Donuzlav Bay, Crimea during the 2014 capture of Southern Naval Base. The film was created with the support of the State Cinema of Ukraine.

Hutsulka Ksenya is a 2019 Ukrainian musical film directed by Olena Demyanenko, based on the operetta of the same name by Yaroslav Barnych.

Reflection is a Ukrainian drama film directed by Valentyn Vasyanovych. Its world premiere took place on 6 September 2021 at the 78th Venice International Film Festival, where it was selected to compete for the Golden Lion. It was scheduled to have a wide theatrical release in Ukraine in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nataliya Gumenyuk</span> Ukrainian journalist and author

Nataliya Petrivna Gumenyuk is a Ukrainian journalist and author specializing in foreign affairs and conflict reporting. She is a co-founder and CEO of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, and a co-founder of the independent media Hromadske. She is the author of several books, including The Lost Island: Tales from the Occupied Crimea (2020).

Mother of Apostles is a Ukrainian war drama directed by Zaza Buadze.

Squat32 is a Ukrainian film from 2019, a youth romantic drama directed by Sasha Lidagovsky. The theatrical premiere of the film took place on April 11, 2019, in Ukraine and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volodymyr Zavadyuk</span>

Zavadyuk Volodymyr Yuriyovych is a Ukrainian producer, a head of the department of Big Brave Events, Big Entertainment Shows 1+1 Media and a creative producer of the following projects: The Voice , The Voice. Kids , Dancing with the Stars, Masquerade, and Lip Sync Battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akim Galimov</span> Ukrainian journalist (born 1985)

Akim Alfadovych Galimov is a Ukrainian journalist, screenwriter, producer, author of documentary and historical projects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASH (Ukrainian TV channel)</span> Ukrainian pro-Russian TV channel

NASH is a closed pro-Russian news and political TV channel in Ukraine owned by pro-Russian politician Yevhen Murayev.

Pamfir is a 2022 Ukrainian fictional feature film directed by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk, which world premiered on May 22, 2022, at the 75th Festival de Cannes, in the selection of the 54th Directors' Fortnight. In Ukrainian distribution since March 23, 2023. From June 22 this year, the film was released on Netflix. The film received the main prize of the Cairo International Film Festival, the Grand Prix of the Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist, took part in many international film festivals. Pamfir was named among the best films of 2023 by The Guardian.

<i>God Will Forgive</i> Ukrainian short drama film

God Will Forgive is a Ukrainian short drama film directed by Hovhannes Khachatryan.

<i>The Dragon Spell</i> 2016 Ukrainian fantasy film

The Dragon Spell is a 2016 Ukrainian 3D animated fantasy film directed by Manuk Depoyan based on Anton Siyanika's fairy tale of the same name. The film is about a young boy named Nicky, who saves the magical world and humans from evil.

References

  1. ↑ Сабініч, Віра (11 February 2020). "Чому варто піти на фільм "Наші котики"?". Tokar.ua. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  2. ↑ "Хто і що подав на конкурс "патріотичного кіно"? – Детектор медіа". 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "Мінкульт опублікував результати пітчингу "патріотичних фільмів" (ДОПОВНЕНО)". detector.media (in Ukrainian). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Кабмін затвердив результати конкурсу патріотичних фільмів Мінкульту – Детектор медіа". 26 March 2019. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Заявка Бліндаж" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 10 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "Міністерство культури України :: Заявки на участь у конкурсному відборі кінопроектів для надання державної фінансової підтримки на виробництво та розповсюдження фільмів патріотичного спрямування". 21 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Патріотичний конкурс Мінкульту дискредитував поняття патріотизму – Володимир Тихий – Детектор медіа". 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "РЕЄСТР проектних заявок на конкурсну програму" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 28 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "РЕЄСТР отриманих проектних заявок на конкурсну програму" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 6 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  10. ↑ "No 460874" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 10 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Три тата й один Андре Тан. Четвертий день 11-го пітчингу Держкіно – Детектор медіа". 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Укладено угоду на виробництво комедії "КОТИК З ПАЛАЮЧИМИ ОЧИМА АБО ЯК МИ ПОЛЮБИЛИ ЛОПАТИ в умовах обмеженої антитерористичної операції з тимчасовими елементами військового стану"". 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. ↑ "Kotyky" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 10 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Zayava Directory Films" (PDF) (in Ukrainian). 10 February 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Режисер Володимир Тихий:Фільм "Наші котики" стане культурним вибухом – Главком". 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Запальний гумор та палаючий Кремль: як сміятися смерті в обличчя". nv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  17. ↑ "15 цікавих фактів про фільм "Наші Котики" режисера Володимира Тихого (ФОТО)". Репортер (in Ukrainian). 31 January 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  18. ↑ "Патріотична кінокомедія "Наші котики" вийде в прокат у листопаді". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 27 September 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  19. ↑ Самусенко, Юрій (2 October 2019). "Трейлер патріотичної неполіткоректної комедії "Наші котики"". Moviegram (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  20. ↑ "Патріотична комедія "Наші котики" вийде в прокат 30 січня". 27 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  21. ↑ "Спалити всіх, аби Києва та Львова не було, – Жиріновський обурився через "Наші котики" – відео". 24 Канал (in Ukrainian). 7 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  22. ↑ ""Это срам какой-то": як фільм "Наші котики" просувають за допомогою тролінгу, deepfake та Месників". 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  23. ↑ Gazeta.ua (30 January 2020). "Дядько їздить на заробітки в Москву. Двоюрідний брат копає бурштин. Тітка надсилає передачки в тюрму синові-рецидивісту. Бабця виховує дітей непутящої дочки". Gazeta.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Пузік, Валерій (10 February 2020). Видавництво Фоліо | Книжка "Наші котики. Бліндаж" купити на сайті Видавництво Фоліо folio.com.ua | 978-966-03-9117-8. ISBN   978-966-03-9117-8. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.