Under the Volcano (2024 film)

Under the Volcano
Theatrical release poster
PolishPod wulkanem
Directed byDamian Kocur
Written by
  • Damian Kocur
  • Marta Konarzewska
Produced by
  • Mikołaj Lizut
  • Agnieszka Jastrzębska
Starring
  • Sofiia Berezovska
  • Roman Lutskyi
  • Anastasiia Karpenko
  • Fedir Pugachov
CinematographyNikita Kuzmenko
Edited byAlan Zejer
Production
companies
Release date
  • 8 September 2024 (2024-09-08) (TIFF)
Running time
102 minutes
CountryPoland
Languages
  • Ukrainian
  • Spanish
  • English
  • Russian
  • German
  • Wolof

Under the Volcano (Polish: Pod wulkanem) is a 2024 Polish drama film directed by Damian Kocur. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2024. It was selected as Poland's submission for Best International Feature Film at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards.[1]

Premise

A Ukrainian family on vacation in Tenerife learns that they cannot return home due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Cast

  • Sofiia Berezovska as Sofiia Kovalenko, a 16-year-old Ukrainian girl
  • Roman Lutskyi [uk] as Roman Kovalenko, Sofiia's father
  • Anastasiia Karpenko [uk] as Anastasiia Kovalenko, Sofiia's stepmother
  • Fedir Pugachov as Fedir Kovalenko, Sofiia's younger brother

Release

Salaud Morisset acquired international sales rights to the film in August 2024.[2] The trailer was released on 7 September 2024.[3]

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 8 September 2024.[4] It will also be screened at the 2024 Gdynia Film Festival as the festival's opening film.[5][6]

Reception

Jared Mobarak of The Film Stage gave the film a grade of B+, writing that "[Damian] Kocur has given form to the purgatory of survival in times of horror."[7] David Katz of Cineuropa wrote, "From an immediately pressurised opening, Under the Volcano drifts into a pleasing and paradoxically hypnotic kind of stasis, shot with oft-deteriorated available light and in shallow focus with long lenses – not quite a 'hangout' movie, and more about biding time in urban loneliness...."[8]

Accolades

Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
BFI London Film Festival 2024 Best Film Under the Volcano Nominated
Cork International Film Festival 2024 Spirit of the Festival Award Nominated
Gdynia Film Festival 2024 Golden Lions Nominated [9]
Best Professional Acting Debut Sofiia Berezovska Won
Marrakech International Film Festival 2024 Étoile d'Or Under the Volcano Nominated [10]
Best Director Damian Kocur Won
Best Performance by an Actor Roman Lutskyi [uk] Won
São Paulo International Film Festival 2024 New Directors Competition Under the Volcano Nominated
Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2024 Golden Alexander Nominated
Warsaw Film Festival 2024 Crème de la Crème Award Nominated
Zurich Film Festival 2024 Best International Feature Film Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ Grobar, Matt (18 September 2024). "Poland Selects Damian Kocur's 'Under The Volcano' As Official Oscar Entry". Deadline. Archived from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  2. ^ Barraclough, Leo (15 August 2024). "Salaud Morisset Boards 'Under the Volcano' Ahead of Toronto Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  3. ^ Balaga, Marta (7 September 2024). "Poland's Damian Kocur Follows 'Bread and Salt' With Ukraine-Centered 'Under the Volcano,' Debuts Trailer: 'It Was Important to Mark My Solidarity' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  4. ^ Dębowska, Anna S. (7 August 2024). "Premiera polskiego filmu na festiwalu w Toronto. Wcześniej tym reżyserem zachwyciła się Wenecja". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 September 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  5. ^ Oleksik, Katarzyna (12 July 2024). "Ogłoszono nominacje do Złotych Lwów. Który polski film ma szansę na statuetkę?". Dzień Dobry TVN (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  6. ^ Kempys, Anna (23 August 2024). "Gdynia 2024: Ujawniono film otwarcia. To będzie mocne wydarzenie!". Interia (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ Mobarak, Jared (9 September 2024). "TIFF Review: Under the Volcano Gives Form to the Purgatory of Survival in Times of Horror". The Film Stage. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  8. ^ Katz, David (11 September 2024). "Review: Under the Volcano". Cineuropa. Archived from the original on 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Green Border emerges triumphant at the Polish Film Festival in Gdynia". Cineuropa. 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  10. ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (7 December 2024). "Marrakech Winners: Palestinian Drama 'Happy Holidays' Wins Best Film". Deadline. Retrieved 7 December 2024.