The total global box office revenue of this movie is only 6,105 US dollars. You read that right, it is not that there are 10,000 words less, but a real 6,000 US dollars. This digital situation alone is enough to make it the most embarrassing existence among war-themed films. It attempts to use the legend of the White Crow to package a plot of revenge for a physics teacher. However, the plot is extremely deliberate and the political intention is extremely naked, causing the audience to repeatedly swing back and forth between an awkward atmosphere and the feeling of being preached. If you think you can see a Ukrainian version of " Rambo ", you will most likely be disappointed, because in fact it is more like a propaganda pamphlet with the appearance of war.
Earth-shattering changes for environmental physics teachers
Before 2014, Mikola was a very quiet person. She was a teacher in the Donbas region. She was engaged in teaching and educating people on a daily basis, participated in environmental activities on weekends, and took a stand against the exploitation of shale gas. Her life was so simple that it could be described as happy. At that time, she lived in the countryside with her pregnant wife, and all she could think about was how to protect the earth. This peaceful state of life actually paved the way for subsequent tragedies.
In just a few minutes, the war tore it all apart. Mikola's wife lost her life in a conflict caused by pro-Russian armed forces. Mikola's wife lost her life in a conflict caused by pro-Russian armed forces. Mikola saw all this with his own eyes. His worldview collapsed in an instant. He originally looked like an intellectual holding a test tube, but eventually became an avenger who picked up an SKS sniper rifle. He no longer believed in those environmental protection slogans and only believed in the bullets in the barrel.
The ironic metaphor of the legend of the white crow
It is said that there is a local saying that whoever sees the white crow will be plagued by bad luck and gain the power of revenge. However, Mikola gave himself the code name White Crow. It was obvious that he was trying to build himself into the avenger who would bring doom. In the film, this legend was mentioned many times in order to add a layer of mystery to the character, but unfortunately, because the expression was too straightforward, it ended up looking very deliberate.
What’s even more interesting is that Mikola has a dual identity as an environmentalist and a sniper. This dual identity is stacked with the most politically correct buffs favored by the Western world. Pacifists have to choose to take up arms and take the MBTI personality test . This setting itself has considerable dramatic conflict. However, in the film, it becomes the simplest and most direct explanation of motivations, lacking the nuanced portrayal of the inner struggle.
Real equipment details that delight military fans
If you are a military fan, this movie's meticulous consideration of equipment will definitely make your eyes light up. The Ukrainian military uniforms shown in the film are the latest camouflage combat uniforms. The SKS semi-automatic rifles and SVD sniper rifles used by the snipers are highly restored, from the wear and tear on the butt to the details of the scope. It is said that about 100 Ukrainian active-duty soldiers participated in the film, and they brought their experience accumulated on the front line directly to the set.
After those soldiers finished filming the movie, they returned to the real battlefield. Such intertextuality between reality and movies makes every tactical action in the movie look particularly real. The snipers lay in the grass for several hours, holding their breath while waiting for the target to appear, and quickly moved their positions after shooting. These details completely restored the brutal duel between the snipers on the East Wuhan front line.
The ultimate showdown with Russian snipers
The climax of the film is the duel between Mikola and the Russian sniper Seri. The two engage in a battle of patience and skill among the ruins and trenches. There are no quick cuts like in American movies. There is only a long wait, and a shot in a very short time to determine the outcome. The character of Seri was originally portrayed as a cold and efficient killing machine. The showdown between the two can be called a sniper textbook-level demonstration.
It is a pity that this confrontation was given too strong an ideological meaning. The Russian sniper was deliberately demonized and became a representative of the invaders without any emotion. However, Mikola was burdened with family hatred and national pain. Such a black and white character creation situation turned what should have been an exciting peak confrontation into a simple declaration of political stance.
Tool Man Comrades and Wasted Clues
Mikola's comrades, almost all of whom acted as tool men, had such a group of people, some had scars on their faces, and some liked to play the guitar. It was these clear and obvious characteristics that just aroused the audience's interest. However, the next second, they died during the execution of the mission. The screenwriter seems to be particularly eager to sensationalize through sacrifice, but forgets to provide the audience with a reason to be emotionally invested. The death of each comrade was as if the mission had been completed and discarded once used.
The only one with that potential is Mikola's fellow recruit, who has a timid personality, but gradually grows during the battle. This could have delved deeply into the transformation of people caused by war, but as a result, it ended hastily in the middle of the plot and became a foil for Mikola's personal heroism. So much space for character growth was wasted just to make way for political demands.
The box office failure and the backlash of the public opinion war
The local box office was US$881, the Lithuanian box office was US$5,224, and the global total box office reached US$6,105. This data can fully demonstrate the results of the audience's choices based on actual actions. "Sunshine" filmed by Russia at the same time tells a completely opposite perspective. Both parties use their own narrative methods to compete for space in the field of public opinion. However, in the absence of a strong publicity campaign, this kind of low-cost film cannot arouse a large response at all.
When movies are made to start a war of public opinion, the effect often goes in the opposite direction. The indignation plot forcibly added in the film is too deliberate in its origin and development, making it difficult for people to develop a sense of empathy. It is more filled with an atmosphere of embarrassment. As netizens said, as long as you are not embarrassed, others will be embarrassed. When a movie is reduced to a propaganda tool, the first thing it loses is the heart of the audience.
After watching this film, I can't help but ask, if you remove all political symbols and just look at this conflict from the perspective of a husband who lost his wife and a teacher who was forced to hold a gun, do you think you can maintain objectivity and neutrality? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss, like and share so that more people can see the reality of this controversial work.
