The drama "Autumn Memories" was released in Ukrainian cinemas
On October 6, 2016, the feature-length drama Autumn Memories by Ali Fakhrmousavi, a co-production of Iran, Czechia, and Ukraine, was released in Ukrainian theaters.
The leading roles are played by Oleksandr Ihnatusha, Dmytro Linartovych, Nazanin Ahmadi Shahpourabadi, Tetiana Yurikova, Halyna Yablonska, and Oleksa Kravchuk.
The screenplay was written by Kateryna Turchanikova, Ali Fakhrmousavi, and Viktor Vilhelm.
Production designer: Ruslan Pysachenko.
Cinematographer: Dmytro Vyshniak.
Music: Roman Korotin.
Producer: Viktor Vilhelm.
Co-producer: Amir Seyed Zadeh.
The film marks the first large-scale experience of independent international collaboration between filmmakers from Iran, Czechia, and Ukraine. Directed by an Iranian filmmaker, the entire budget was financed by foreign investors. At the same time, Autumn Memories was created with deep respect and love for the Ukrainian people and with a profound understanding of the country’s current circumstances.
At the heart of the film is love — a force that compels the main characters to move forward and to live, despite everything. Neither age, nor cultural differences, nor language barriers can stand in its way.
The filmmakers invite viewers to reflect on how, under any circumstances, one must not lose the capacity to love, to empathize, to dream. In other words, to remain truly Human, and not to lose what is essential under the pressure of life’s challenges. Thus, the central theme of the film is love and humanity.
The plot of the film is a story of love and memories shared by four people. The first is Anatoliy (Dmytro Linartovych), a young Ukrainian musician who voluntarily enlisted to defend his homeland in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. After being wounded, he comes to Western Ukraine for treatment, where he finds new friends and falls in love with Imeh (Nazanin Ahmadi Shahpourabadi, Iran), a young refugee girl from Iraq. But Imeh is also loved by his new friend Oleksandr (Oleksandr Ihnatusha), an older man, a local sculptor who has endured personal tragedy and is trying to start life anew. Another complex female character is Natalia (Tetiana Yurikova), the sister of Oleksandr’s late wife, who has loved him all her life, supporting him in both sorrow and joy — and who, for the sake of her love, is prepared to act not only decisively but also cunningly.
The story takes place in a village in the Carpathian region of Ukraine, near the border with the European Union. Filming took place in Truskavets and the villages of Drohobych district, particularly in Dobrohostiv, with the invitation and support of the Truskavets International Film Festival “Crown of the Carpathians” and the Prykarpattia Film Commission.
The soundtrack of the film features the song Ne vidpuskai (“Don’t Let Go”) performed by Olha Rakytska. The film also includes poetry by Lina Kostenko.
Ali Fakhrmousavi (Iran/Czechia), director:
“Once I read the words of my favorite writer, Gabriel García Márquez: ‘If you fall in love, it means you are young; if not, you are already old!’ I always thought about this situation: what happens when both an older man and a younger man fall in love with a young beautiful woman? In our film it is even more complicated. Imeh is from another country, she does not know the language. These are the kinds of stories I love — dramas with unusual, yet deeply meaningful relationships between the characters. Real and truthful human communication, real dialogue.”
Dmytro Linartovych (Anatoliy, actor):
“The story we are telling is important to me on a deeply personal level. I have spoken with many soldiers who have been through the ATO, and I know what ‘post-war syndrome’ means — it is a very significant and frightening part of their lives, primarily psychologically. And our film is about how a soldier returning from war learns to live again. Autumn Memories is a human story, a breath of fresh air that many people desperately need today.”
Tetiana Yurikova (Natalia, actress):
“Undoubtedly, the theme of the film — love and war — always touches emotions. Today, as military conflicts continue both in Eastern Ukraine and in the Middle East, it is particularly painful and relevant for our countries. But for me and my heroine, it is above all a universal human story. A story of love between people. It does not matter in which country they live, or what year is on the calendar. This is a film about true feelings, true love, about faith and devotion.”
Oleksandr Ihnatusha (actor):
“This is a film about war without showing war, where the tragic events in our country and in the Middle East are reflected in a unique way. The fates of a wounded ATO soldier, an Iraqi refugee, and an aging sculptor intersect. The story of Autumn Memories is simple and clear. It is about war — without war — and this is very valuable, because the war is still present nonetheless. I hope we managed to create an interesting and realistic story that will appeal to the audience. God willing, our cinema will grow, there will be an audience for it, and we will have a strong nation.”
Viktor Vilhelm (producer):
“When the idea for this film came up, I immediately thought of Ukraine. It is, essentially, my second homeland. I recalled Truskavets, because I had several times been a participant in the International Film Festival ‘Crown of the Carpathians’, I know these places well, and I love them. Here we received maximum support, which is very important. Our film is built on a universal love story and is made to align with contemporary European intellectual cinema, where the relationships between characters are clearly drawn and attention is paid to their inner, psychological state. I believe that the theme of our film will attract audiences of all ages, since it is always relevant — people will inevitably see the characters through the lens of their own experiences and emotions.”
Official information.