Sean Penn’s mission is either success or “we’re all fucked up”!

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Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman’s film “Superforce” became the central event of the Berlinale. The show is out of competition, but it was the one that emphasized the official position of “solidarity with Ukraine”. Participating Ukrainian films, of which there are six, did not make it into the main competition program either. “Superpower” is a kind of PR postcard from warring Ukraine from Hollywood stars, assembled from improvised materials. Sean Penn’s charisma and fame paved the way for the film at the Berlinale and are ready to convince foreigners of the need to help Ukrainians with weapons. The actor took up the work of a promoter on the Ukrainian issue with great zeal. His admiration for Ukrainians and President Zelensky is contagious. The film was conceived before the war. Producer Billy Smith offered Sean Penn to make a film about a wonder – a comedian who, unexpectedly even for himself, became the president of the country after his role in the series. “It will be fun,” he assured. The friends then knew little about Ukraine and certainly did not think that they would get into the epicenter of military events. Reading about the plot of the film and the chronology of events in pre-premiere publications, I was certain that Penn recorded the first major interview with Zelensky before the escalation of the war. And in the film we will see how the rhetoric of the president of a peaceful country has changed when he is forced to call people to war. Sean Penn talks to the host of the opening ceremony of the 73rd Berlinale. Photo: Monika Skolimowska, Getty Images However, in my opinion, creative luck just didn’t happen. An interview with Zelensky was scheduled for February 24, and a confused, angry, scared Sean Penn in a tuxedo returned to the hotel with nothing. That is, the interview with the President took place already during full-scale military operations. However, the viewer will still see a certain transformation “on the air”. And this is not about the “aging of the Ukrainian president by 10 years”, as foreign film critics wrote, because these changes are already obvious to us. I am talking about the interaction between Penn and Zelensky, who became friends six months after the first meeting. At least the summer interview in Bankova’s kindergarten looks like a conversation between two old friends. Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman present the film “Superpower” at the 73rd Berlinale. Photo: Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images It is noticeable that Penn admires not only Zelensky, but literally every new hero in the frame. He cheerfully drinks with veterans at Leonid Ostaltsev’s pizzeria, with journalists from foreign media, listens to the wife of an activist killed during the Maidan, stops by some random protester – he is interested in everything. Several times in the tape it is said that there was no reason for the attack. And this is a very important emphasis for the Western audience, which continues to push for a peaceful scenario of the development of events – “if we give Putin what he wants and do not provoke.” Read also: The Blue and Yellow Bear of the 73rd Berlinale – about war, refugees, the search for self-identity and with Hollywood stars. It is obvious that the experience that the authors of the film had during a few days in February in Ukraine did not let them go even after returning home. They film specialists in the history of Ukraine and Russian-Ukrainian relations in the USA. They generously share their feelings, memories and thoughts. Sean Penn is launching an active pro-Ukrainian campaign in America. He talks about guns in studios on television, in meetings with congressmen. Sean Penn at the presentation of the film “Superpower” at the 73rd Berlinale. Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images Filming in the USA is much brighter and more composed, because in general the film was shot in a decidedly careless manner. And if there are no questions about the shaking of the camera when passing through the empty and disturbing Maidan, then it is really unclear why the clothes hangers “stick out of the head” of the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba. It is obvious that the recording of this interview took place in a nice hotel room and was hardly spontaneous. But the composition of the frame and the light are very strange. Apparently, at some point, the directors stopped caring about the picture altogether and focused on their reflections. Only the Russian Ilya Ponomarev sat on a separate chair against the background of the landscape with the Sophia Bell Tower. The rest of the speakers cut into a shot of Sean Penn at tables in dim cafes. It seems that the directors did not care about the light and the entourage. Sean Penn visits the Office of the President of Ukraine in November. Photo: press service of the President of Ukraine. There was also a noticeable difference in the recording of the “video call” with Andriy Yermak. From the Ukrainian side, it was filmed with professional lighting against the background of sandbags, probably by the president’s cameramen. While Sean Penn sat hunched over a laptop displayed above books, talking via video to a tired Zelenskyi. Of course, the picture is secondary, if something important sounds in the frame, but Ukrainians will not learn anything new or profound from the mouths of the heroes. After all, we are not the audience of the film. When Volodymyr Klitschko began to say on the screen: “Kyiv, from the capital” isolated laughter spread through the hall, and foreigners looked at each other in surprise – why? But at the moment when Zelensky said to the US president: “I don’t need evacuation, but ammunition!” – everyone unanimously applauded. Somewhere at the beginning of the film, they tell how Ukraine voluntarily gave up nuclear weapons in 1991 and received security guarantees, in particular from the United States, and that this agreement was violated with impunity 9 years ago by Russia. It is noteworthy that this episode is illustrated by the archive, where the Russian President Boris Yeltsin hugs sometimes with George Bush, sometimes with Bill Clinton. Only in one frame is the unremarkable Leonid Kuchma, on the edge of the table. Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman at the press conference of the film “Superpower” at the special Gala program of the Berlinale. Photo: STEFANIE LOOS/AFP via Getty Images “I don’t think any of us really understood what Ukraine was,” co-director Kaufman said after the premiere in Berlin. But we must give credit that the excursion into history was as clear and comprehensive as possible in such a concise format. The Revolution of Dignity, the crown beats Yanukovych, Poroshenko, who did not carry out reforms…there are many Zelenskyi who imitates playing the piano without underwear or dances at “Evening with the 95th Quarter”. It is interesting that most of the speakers in the film were not Zelenskyi voters. Yulia Marushevska even admits that she was upset, but it was a democratic choice. “Then we’ll figure out who and what. The main thing is to win now,” the military man in the dugout answers questions about the state’s leadership. Sean Penn will visit the Office of the President of Ukraine in November 2022. Photo: the press service of the President. By the way, the episode with the visit to 0 seemed to me completely unnecessary and unjustified. It seems that Sean Penn at some point ran out of thrills in Kyiv. And, using the protection of the first person of the state, he went to a more dangerous zone. It is not clear why? According to the video, it’s just changing from car to car, putting on a bulletproof vest, the feeling of danger and the surprised expressions on the faces of our soldiers. It can be seen how they try to calmly accept the additional gloom and responsibility for Hollywood guests. There is no piety, there is a feeling of inappropriateness. The team, under the cover of soldiers, goes to the dugout 130 meters from the Russian positions. It all looks risky, not justified by either the artistic or documentary value of the material. Just a whim. This movie is not about Zelensky and not even about Ukraine. This is a film about an American actor who came to an unknown country to shoot a funny story, but got into the meat grinder of history, was influenced by people’s feelings and ideals and found his mission there. It is Sean Penn, the central character, who is angry at the bad timing of the interview, fights with fear, aware of the historicity of the moment, cheers, nervous, wants to understand, doubts, looks for support and finally cannot calm down even after editing the film. He is driven by the struggle of Ukrainians, he falls in love with them and Ukraine. He does not politically correct bottles of alcohol, constantly smokes… It is obvious that he will come to Ukraine more than once and will travel the world with a short and convincing resume, which he announced after the premiere: “If Russia wins, we are f*cked” will win, we’re all fucked up). Natalka Yakymovych, specially for UP.Zhyttia from Berlin, Germany

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