The Malanka carnival has rich traditions – masks to ward off evil spirits are being made in the barn and hot, fresh pancakes await in the kitchen. Warm and hearty macho guy Pamfir returns home after a long absence having honourably taken leave of his contraband on the Ukrainian-Romanian border. After his young son is made to attend the choir against his will, the church burns down along with some important family documents. The pastor blames Pamfir’s family, which leads him to resolve to help rebuild the church, but he has to return to his past in order to do so. Pamfir’s stubborn determination is his weakness, as it is capable of harming those closest to him.

Under multiple layers of genres and a jumble of physical and verbal comedy that cannot be described with words lies an ethnographically unique story depicting life on the border of Western Ukraine. Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk’s debut feature looks to both European and American traditions in genre films, as well as to local traits and history. The film, which was in competition in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes, gives audiences a glimpse into the lives and traditions of locals (the film features the Bukovinian dialect) woven together with threads of crime comedy and the almost extinct masculine action film protagonist who “knows everything better than everyone else”. Pamfir just wants to love his wife Olena, raise their son, and to beat up the bad guys. But ultimately: to save the day.