Charming adaptation of the children’s stories Fedko Khalamydnyk by political activist, writer, playwright and artist Volodymyr Vynnychenko, who served as the first prime minister of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Vynnychenko’s works were banned from the 1930s until the mid-1980s but he is now recognized as pre-revolutionary Ukraine’s leading modernist writer.

The film follows the exploits of young Fedko – valiant leader of a rabble of downtrodden children whose playground is the snowy streets and icy rivers of Kyiv (redolent of Kaufman’s In Spring, HippFest 2023). Constantly feuding with the mean-spirited “Manager” and his spoiled son, Fedko must keep his wits about him to get by. Guaranteed to melt the hardest of hearts, this beautifully shot, fresh-faced film is one of HippFest 2024’s must-sees.  

Dir. Aksel Lundin | USSR | 1929 | N/C PG | 1h 9m | Russian intertitles with English surtitles

With: Kolia Kopelian, Ivan Kononenko-Kozelskiy, D. Lyubchenko

Original title: Priklucheniya Poltinnika

Performing live: John Sweeney (piano)

Screening material courtesy of Olexsandr Dovzhenko National Centre, Kyiv

Online programme notes by Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival