A Story of the Forest: Mavka

A haunting, visually poetic folk tragedy that unfolds with ritualistic slowness, blending myth and heartbreak into an unforgettable dreamlike experience.

Directed by

Yurii Illienko

Genres

Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Starring

Lyudmila Efimenko, Viktor Kremlev, Maya Bulgakova

Overview

Mavka, a water nymph, loves Lukash, a country youth. Their brief happiness ends when Lukash is forced to marry the shrewish Kilina. The spirit of the forest turns Lukash into a wolf as punishment for his infidelity. The strength of Mavka's love breaks the spell, but Kilina curses the nymph, transforming her into a weeping willow. This beautiful and tragic story is based on a play written in 1912 by Lesya Ukrainka, a Ukrainian poet, writer and political, civil and female activist, and includes mythological characters taken from Ukrainian folklore.

How it feels

Melancholic, eerie, romantic and dark. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Love, betrayal, fate, nature

Content

Mild violence, gore and sexual content. No swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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