By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Kateryna Gornostai
Starring: Arsenii Markov | Maria Fedorchenko | Oleksandr Ivanov | Yana Isaienko
Original language title: Стоп-Земля
Country: ukraine
Year: 2022
Running time: 122
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14028890/reference
Michael says: “Kateryna Gornostal marries her documentary filmmaking experience, with a narrative on regular teen life in the Ukraine in this ordinary, yet powerful story that follows a small group of friends through their senior year of high school. There are the usual high school dramatics, who likes who, who said what to whom, effectively filtered through the ever-present use of social media, but these kids aren’t caricature, but real, three-dimensional human beings. The film revolves around Masha and her two dearest friends, Yana, and Sonia, all three being slight outcasts… or think the Molly Ringwald/Ducky type in PRETTY IN PINK. Masha is convinced that the person she has been flirting with in Instagram is the popular cute boy, Sasha, who is notable for the awkward and touching relationship with his mother. Interspersed throughout the low-key drama are documentary-style interviews with all of the actors in their various high school student characters. It’s part improv part doc, and highly effective. The young actors bring the characters so effectively to life, I couldn’t help but wonder how they were all doing throughout this terrible conflict. 4 1/2 cats“
Brett says: “In the way that John Hughes teen-cast films like THE BREAKFAST CLUB felt right as a voice of the voiceless in the 1980s, STOP-ZEMLIA is a notable film in that same regard for the modern teen. With that surely comes a reflexive huff-and-puff series of sighs from select adults or parents who might come across the film, much in the same way parents in the ‘80s might have viewed the Brat Pack of that day as a stain or wrinkle in the fabric of ‘standardized’ teen living. Make no mistake, however; the plight of modern youth navigating social strata and inner conflict is where the Hughes comparisons should probably end from an aesthetic view. The tone and—dare I say—’vibe’ of STOP-ZEMLIA beats in rhythm with the style of angst and identity crises relevant to this day and age and does not resemble the pace and antics of any aforementioned 1980s model. Because of that, the authenticity and unique fingerprint this film leaves is merit-worthy in itself. It’s more of a series of experiences, moods, and character portraits in its attention to high school teen life rather than a narrative-heavy focus. With great confidence I can say there is no doubt that this would’ve been exactly the type of film a time-displaced teen version of myself would have gravitated toward over any plastic, cookie-cutter representations of teens that today’s Hollywood might offer. 4 cats out of 5”
Chris says: “Occasionally feels a bit tentative, but it’s also more true-to-life than most films about teens, sidestepping flash and sensationalism for something as mundane and utterly relatable as an unrequited crush. 3.5 cats“