The Eve of Ivan Kupalo (Yuri Ilyenko, 1968, Soviet Union)

The Eve of Ivan Kupalo is a striking and evocative 1968 film by director Yuri Ilyenko. It came to our attention at the recommendation of director Robert Eggers, who cited the film as an inspiration on his 2024 film Nosferatu. Apparently unreleased in its native Ukraine until 1989, and largely unavailable in distribution until recently (we were able to find the film on YouTube), it is incredible that the film was not championed and praised sooner. Ilyenko, who worked for Sergei Parajanov on his seminal 1965 film Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, learned more than a bit from the auteur.

Based on a short story by Nikolai Gogol, but incorporating additional Ukrainian national myths, The Eve of Ivan Kupalo tells the story of a poor farmer named Piotr who seeks to marry the beautiful Pidorka, but is prevented from doing so by her father. He makes a bargain with a devil figure named Bassaruv (who appears covered in red paint), which involves the decapitation of a child. Piotr gets the girl, but he ultimately suffers for his actions. The plot elements of the film are largely secondary to the mood and visuals. As in the films of Parajanov, Ilyenko relies heavily on tableaux that almost appear to be moving paintings. The frame is always busy, featuring numerous sets, actors, and costumes.

The color choices and music are also striking. The entire film has a hallucinatory effect on the viewer. Ilyenko may be best known for the Soviet drama The White Bird Marked with Black (1970), but it is hard to imagine Ivan not being considered his crowning achievement. It is also not surprising that the film was banned, particularly given that the anti-Soviet themes here are evident even to viewers who are unfamiliar with the local politics surrounding Ukraine and the Soviet Union.

8/10