The Hunters and the Hunted

For quite a long time now, I’ve been thinking about a film inspired by “The Hunters and the Hunted” by Ivan Bahrianyi, one of the most interesting and cinematic novels in 20th-century Ukrainian literature. Even before the outbreak of the war, this need became increasingly urgent for me – to portray a hero who was ready to go through any trial for the sake of freedom and the preservation of his identity. I wanted to see such a hero not among the Cossack regiment, as a stable symbol that everyone is tired of and has not associated with for a long time, but almost as a modern man, a man who is much closer to us and more understandable. Hryhoriy Mnohohrishny never sees himself as a victim and instinctively fights for his ideals. He survives in extremely difficult conditions, against which his already strong-willed character, with an incredible thirst for life, crystallizes even more. 

 This film is very relevant right now. At the same time, it is not directly related to our current struggle. It is a reminder – of what happens when Ukraine exists only in memories, songs and myths.

 When I think of the visuals for this project, a few things come to mind: incredible nature is taking over the people, and nature never surrenders. Still, by being polite and respectful, you can survive. A Soviet regime that is crushing lives, like a demonic train taking political prisoners to the Gulag. Tenderness and kindness between people, a family that accepts Hryhoriy full of love. And the details of living in their almost magical realm – with dreams and visions.

 Correspondingly, super-wide shots will underline the difference between nature (its powers and greatness) and people (their efforts to live and survive). The suffocating cruelty of the regime will be captured in narrow compositions. Hryhoriy’s interactions with Natalka and her family will have a hint of magical realism, body-exploring and somehow raw, focusing on light studies. Overall, an atmosphere full of anxiety and tenderness, hectic, yet slow and powerful.

ANNA BURYACHKOVA, director

Last year, director Anna Buryachkova and I released her narrative feature debut FOREVER-FOREVER in Venice’s Orizzonti Extra competition. For us, it was a very special event – the full-scale war on Ukraine started in February 2022 just as we were wrapping that film’s principal photography and were putting together a first rough cut.

On Anna’s new project, we are at an early stage of development, and the development grant by the Ukrainian Film Academy in partnership with Netflix was our first development financing. We were also happy that EAVE joined that support for the Ukrainian film industry and provided us with script consulting sessions.

We will continue our cooperation with Dutch producers and friends at Rinkel Film in the late development/production stage. We have already had a wonderful collaboration with them on making Anna’s debut. Cinematographer Olena Chekhovska, who also shot FOREVER-FOREVER, will be joining this project too. We are looking for co-producers, financiers, a sales agent and distributors for the project. Shooting is set to begin in autumn 2026. 

NATALIA LIBET, producer