How one of the most expensive Ukrainian movies was filmed: 7 interesting facts about "Dovbush" that will make you revisit it again

In honor of the Independence Day of Ukraine, August 24, at 20:00 on the TV channel ICTV2 will be the television premiere of the adventure-historical film "Dovbush". The plot of one of the most expensive domestic films, directed by Oles Sanin, is based on the legend of the leader of the rebels in Galicia Oleksa Dovbush.

More than 117 specialists worked on the creation of the most large-scale blockbuster of the Ukrainian film industry, and to fully convey the atmosphere of Hutsulshchyna at least 50 different locations were involved. On the occasion of the TV premiere of the historical drama, OBOZ.UA prepared 7 interesting facts about "Dovbush", which will make you reconsider it again.

The blockbuster's first screening took place despite pandemic and war

Work on the creation of the historical movie began back in 2018. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the outbreak of war, the filming process had to be stopped several times.

The first full-scale shooting taking place outside the pavilion was scheduled for 2020, but was postponed due to the pandemic. Ukrainians were supposed to see the premiere of "Dovbush" in early 2022, but the full-scale invasion postponed the screening for an unknown time. Despite all the obstacles, the long-awaited blockbuster appeared in cinemas on August 24, 2023, the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's independence.

The filming process lasted more than 118 shifts and the budget amounted to a record sum

In order to reproduce the time of Gutsulshchina as accurately as possible, the creative team worked 108 shooting shifts. The work process involved about 50 different locations, including famous natural places and cult buildings.

The total budget of the film amounted to a record 120 million hryvnias, which makes the drama one of the most expensive in the Ukrainian film industry.

Real historical monuments served as locations

Filming of "Dovbush" took place in the most picturesque places of our country: the Carpathians, Ternopil region, Drohobych, Lviv and Kiev. For example, most of the scenes with the estate of the Polish princess Jablonowska were filmed in a real Svirzhsky castle, although in some moments appeared and Zbarazhsky. One of the significant locations was the Drohobych saltworks, and the shots with the priest were created in the authentic wooden Church of St. Jura.

Fascinating mountain landscapes were filmed on the picturesque Dovbush cliffs and the Svidovets Ridge with the Hereshava Lake.

Costumes for the characters were sewn by 117 craftsmen

The most important element that helped to convey the authenticity of the historical era was the clothing of the characters. Costume designers Gala Otenko and Maria Kero reproduced the clothes of Hutsuls of the XVIII century, using domestic, Polish and Hungarian sources.

During eight months 117 specialists from different parts of Ukraine made more than a thousand different images for the characters of the movie. The outfits were sewn from homespun cloth, embroidered with woolen threads and dyed with natural dyes.

The most expensive costumes were the outfits of Marichka and Pani Jablonowska

Daria Plakhtiy, who played the role of the bride of the main character Marichka, and Agata Buzek, incarnated in the Polish princess Jablonowska, had the opportunity to wear the most expensive and beautiful costumes.

According to the artists, the outfits of the noblewoman reproduced from picturesque paintings of the time, because it had to fully convey her status. Carefully following the choice of fabrics and styles that corresponded to long-standing trends, the masters created a dress of 7-10 kilograms.

The masters made Marichka's wedding image within two weeks, and the exquisite crown-wreath of feathers was ordered separately at the factory.

The actors studied the Hutsul dialect

In order to reproduce Oleksa Dovbush's era as accurately as possible, the actors generously embellished their lines with Hutsul words. However, the main character used the least amount of dialect in his speech, because he had to be understood by modern viewers.

Immersion into the world of the Hutsuls

In addition to clothing, for the filming of the blockbuster specially produced knives, bartkas and pistols, which the actors learned to use skillfully. Specialists working on the project managed to create a real universe of Hutsuls of the XVIII century.

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