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Firebird (2021 film)

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Firebird
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPeeter Rebane
Screenplay by
Based onThe Story of Roman
1993 novel
by Sergey Fetisov[1]
Produced by
  • Brigita Rozenbrika
  • Peeter Rebane
  • Tom Prior
Starring
  • Tom Prior
  • Oleg Zagorodnii
  • Diana Pozharskaya
CinematographyMait Mäekivi
Edited byTambet Tasuja
Music byKrzysztof Aleksander Janczak
Production
companies
  • The Factory
  • No Reservations Entertainment
  • Film Estonia
Distributed byRoadside Attractions (United States)
Release dates
  • 17 March 2021 (2021-03-17) (BFI Flare)
  • 22 April 2022 (2022-04-22) (United Kingdom)
  • 29 April 2022 (2022-04-29) (United States)
Running time
107 minutes
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Estonia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$238,487[2][3]

Firebird is a 2021 romantic war drama film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Peeter Rebane (in his feature directorial debut), based on Sergey Fetisov's memoir The Story of Roman.[4] The film stars Tom Prior (who also co-wrote and co-produced), Oleg Zagorodnii, and Diana Pozharskaya. Set in the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War, it tells the true story of forbidden love between a private and a fighter pilot.[5]

Firebird had its world premiere at the 35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival on 17 March 2021.[6] The film also screened at the 45th Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival on 27 June 2021, where it won an honorable mention for Best First Feature.[7] The film had a limited theatrical release in the United States by Roadside Attractions on 29 April 2022.

Plot

Sergey, a young private in the Soviet Air Force, has only a few weeks remaining in his military service. He and his friends bristle under the tight control of the military commanders. He appears to have a budding romance with Luisa, the secretary to the base commander, and he indulges in a photography hobby that is barely tolerated by his superiors. He's assigned to assist a new fighter pilot, Roman, when he arrives. An undeniable passion between them develops, despite the threat of imprisonment that hangs over homosexual romances under the Soviet regime. Nonetheless, they consummate their attraction to one another and are nearly found out by a KGB agent.

Roman encourages Sergey to study acting in Moscow instead of returning to his family's farm when he leaves the service. A year after Sergey leaves and finds a new life in the theater, he is invited to Roman and Luisa's wedding. He attends and barely contains his disappointment in Roman and continuing love for him.

Roman and Luisa have a child together, but their marriage is a sham, and he continues to yearn for Sergey. Roman leaves his wife and son ostensibly to study in Moscow. He secretly rents an apartment with Sergey and they cohabit happily and take vacations together. However, Luisa and their son come to Moscow for Christmas and Roman and Sergey's love is revealed to her. She is enraged at both Roman and Sergey by this revelation and the two men must part.

Later, Roman is assigned to participate in the Soviet–Afghan War, where he is killed. After his death, Sergey visits Luisa, who is still very angry at him. He returns to his life as an actor in Moscow and is last seen watching a production of Igor Stravinsky's ballet, The Firebird, which Roman had introduced him to.

Cast

Production

Peeter Rebane first came across the story of Firebird in 2014 when Sergei Lavrentiev, film critic and actor, gave him a copy of The Story of Roman by Sergey Fetisov.[8] Rebane collaborated with actor and screenwriter Tom Prior, who was previously in The Theory of Everything and Kingsman: The Secret Service. Rebane and Prior interviewed Fetisov before his death in 2017 to gain materials for the film's production.

Casting

Prior was first approached to play Sergey Serebrennikov before becoming involved in the writing process.[8] Oleg Zagorodnii, a Ukrainian actor, was then cast to play the role of Roman Matvejev. Zagorodnii, who's been in a couple of Russian stage productions, was hesitant about taking on the role, citing his limited English.

While in Moscow, Rebane came across Diana Pozharskaya, a Russian actress and dancer, who he believed had the right energy to play the part. "Ninety percent of a director’s job is casting," said Rebane. "If you cast the right personality, with the right energy for the role you are off to a good start."

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival on 17 March 2021, screening as part of the Hearts strand.[9][10] It also screened at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival on 24 April 2021, the 45th Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival on 27 June 2021, the 42nd Durban International Film Festival on 23 July 2021,and the 39th Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival on 21 August 2021.[11] Its Asian premiere was held at the 32nd Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on 17 September 2021.[12] On 22 February 2022, it was announced that the director Peeter Rebane had granted the film's distribution rights for the United States to Roadside Attractions, with its limited theatrical release on 29 April 2022.[13]

Reception

Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref
Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival Feature Film Peeter Rebane Won [14]
Cleveland International Film Festival George Gund III Memorial Central and Eastern European Film Competition Peeter Rebane Nominated [15]
FilmOut San Diego, US Best Narrative Feature Peeter Rebane,Tom Prior, Brigita Rozenbrika Won [16]
Best Director Peeter Rebane Won
Best Actor Tom Prior Won
Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival Best First Feature: Honorable Mention Peeter Rebane Won [17][7]
Outstanding First Feature Award Peeter Rebane Nominated
Key West Film Festival Best LGBTQ Film Peeter Rebane Won [18]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, which categorizes reviews only as positive or negative, 55% of 49 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.60.[19] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[20] Randy Myers in his review for the San Jose Mercury News said it is "a glossy and classy melodrama that soars with passion and is elevated by strong production values, heartfelt performances and a story arc that journeys to unexpected destinations".[21] In the Daily Mirror (UK), Lewis Knight said that it "is not a revolutionary Queer romance by any means but it is a glossy love story with conviction and genuine historical tragedy."[22]

In less favorable reviews, Ed Gonzalez wrote for Slant Magazine that the movie is suffocated by "clichés and then there are only clichés".[23] Mark Keizer of The A.V. Club gave the movie a "C", praising the lead actors' chemistry and beauty but found its melodramatic screenplay does the film "no favor".[24]

References

  1. ^ "Andrew Howdle's review of Firebird".
  2. ^ "Firebird (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Firebird (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  4. ^ Gilchrist, Tracy E. (22 June 2021). "Tension Builds Between Military Men in Cold War Film 'Firebird'". The Advocate. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Firebird review – story of gay lovers in the Soviet era is Brokeback in the USSR". The Guardian. 19 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  6. ^ Tambur, Silver (18 February 2021). "British-Estonian movie "Firebird" to premiere at the London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival". Estonian World. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Frameline45 Awards Announced". Frameline. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Firebird Production Note" (PDF). The DDA Group. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  9. ^ "World premieres of Rebel Dykes and Firebird announced for 35th BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival". British Film Institute. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  10. ^ Rosser, Michael (24 February 2021). "'Firebird', 'Jump, Darling' head BFI Flare's 2021 digital edition line-up". Screen International. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  11. ^ Grobar, Matt (26 July 2021). "Outfest Los Angeles: Dates, Venues & Lineup Set For 39th Festival Returning To In-Person Screenings". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Firebird". Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  13. ^ Grobar, Matt (22 February 2022). "Roadside Attractions Acquires Cold War Romantic Drama 'Firebird' From Director Peeter Rebane". Deadline. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  14. ^ "AGLIFF ANNOUNCES 2021 AWARD WINNERS FOR PRISM 34", AFLIFF, 17 September 2021, archived from the original on 24 September 2021, retrieved 26 June 2023
  15. ^ "CIFF46 Announces Feature Film Juried Competitions and Award Artist". Cleveland International Film Fest. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 March 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  16. ^ FilmOut San Diego (26 April 2022). "Winner of 3 Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for @TomPriorActor". Twitter. Archived from the original on 4 December 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  17. ^ Frameline45 Awards Announced, archived from the original on 4 December 2022, retrieved 4 December 2022
  18. ^ "2021 Award Winners", Key West Film Festival, archived from the original on 28 November 2021, retrieved 26 June 2023
  19. ^ "Firebird". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  20. ^ Firebird, retrieved 11 October 2022
  21. ^ "Frameline 2021: Here's what to see at huge LGBTQ film fest". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Firebird review: Cold War drama is 'glossy and sensual forbidden romance'". Daily Mirror. 23 March 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  23. ^ Gonzalez, Ed (22 April 2022). "'Firebird' Review: Drowning in a Sea of Manufactured Sentiment". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  24. ^ "In Firebird, a gay love affair leads to sorrow—and too much melodrama". The A.V. Club. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
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