The White Bird Marked with Black (1971)

The White Bird Marked with Black (1971)
Bilyy ptakh z chornoyu vidznakoyu (original title)
99 min

Country: Soviet Union
Language: Ukrainian


Director: Yuri Ilyenko
Writers: Yuri Ilyenko, Ivan Mykolajchuk
Stars: Larisa Kadochnikova, Ivan Mykolajchuk and Bogdan Stupka

Colourful 'optimistic tragedy' of a poor family in Ukraine, living in the Carpathian mountains near the Romanian border, during the Second World War. Five sons of the family make up the village band, but as the battles between the Nazi-supported Ukranian nationalists and the Soviets go on, their band loses one player after another. (IMDB)

The time period spans 1937-1947, in a western Ukrainian village home to a large Zvonar family with sons Petro, Orest and the youngest. As time goes by, Petro joins the Red Army; Orest joins UPA, and the youngest stays at home. However, their fates inevitably cross one another whether in love or in the mountains with arms. (Wikipedia Page)

Awards:
Won Golden Prize in Moscow International Film Festival 1971