The Tallinn Film Festival included a film about a romance between a Ukrainian and a Russian in its program: the State Film Agency reacted

The Tallinn Dark Nights Film Festival (Estonia) is planning to screen a controversial film by Russian director Boris Guts about a romance between a Russian and a Ukrainian woman in Istanbul (Turkey) called "Deaf Lovers." The film was included in the Standing with Ukraine program, which was created to support Ukraine rather than play along with Kremlin propaganda about the "brotherly people."

"Deaf Lovers" is to be broadcast over three days, with the premiere starting this Sunday, November 17. The next dates are November 18 and 20. The State Film Agency reacted to the unacceptable screening and sent a letter to the organizers of the film festival.

"We appeal to the organizers of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) to reconsider the decision to exclude the Russian film "Deaf Lovers" directed by Boris Guts from the main program of the festival. Given Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the numerous sufferings of the Ukrainian people, it is especially important to ensure that cultural platforms do not become tools for films that blur the boundaries of understanding the reality of Ukrainians," the State Film Agency said in a statement.

They also drew attention to the possible presence of propaganda and the fact that the film by a Russian director will be broadcast as part of the support for Ukraine. However, the Standing with Ukraine category allows Ukrainian filmmakers to showcase their work.

"We are deeply convinced that allowing the screening of Russian films in the current context carries the risk of propaganda that justifies aggression and may be part of the aggressor's information strategy. We are grateful for your understanding and look forward to further cooperation that will help support freedom, human rights, and cultural independence," the institution continued.

The film "Deaf Lovers" tells the story of a romance between a man from Russia and a woman from Ukraine who met in Istanbul and began to communicate closely (in sign language, due to their lack of hearing) and spend time together. At that time, the Russian terrorist war was going on in the girl's homeland.

"The very idea of the script as a starting point for the message of the film is great, it challenges the cliché that you see in many films that love conquers all. But maybe it is true if you don't hear or talk about the war? The author goes even further and, through the main characters, comes to a great generalization that one cannot remain silent about the war," says the reviewer Mikkel Möllmann.

Among the Ukrainian films to be screened as part of the Standing with Ukraine program are the following:

• "A Sentimental Journey to the Parajanov Planet" by Taras Tomenko,
• "Dear Beautiful Beloved" by Yuriy Rechynsky,
• "Peaceful People" by Oksana Karpovych,
• "The Porcelain War" by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontiev,
• "The Editorial Office" by Roman Bondarchuk,
• "The Invasion" by Serhii Loznitsa,
• "Mousetrap" by Serhii Kastornyi,
• "U Are the Universe" by Pavlo Ostrikov.

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned another film festival, which planned to show the scandalous film "Russians at War," which aims to whitewash the reputation of the occupiers.

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