The documentary “Okean Elzy: Observing the Storm” has been released in Ukrainian cinemas.

The film offers a detailed look at the legendary band’s story. It was created by Knife! Films, the studio known for “Yaremchuk: The Incomparable World of Beauty.” The project was produced by Maksym Serdyuk, directed by Artem Hryhoryan, and written by Vadym Pereverziev.

Work on the film began in July 2024 and lasted for about a year and a half, involving nearly a hundred people. The result is a candid narrative that answers many long-standing questions from fans — and reveals plenty of new details even for those less familiar with the band. As Sviatoslav Vakarchuk noted at the pre-premiere screening in Lviv, the film uncovered “a lot of new things not only for my mother, but for me as well.”

The film combines archival photos and footage, interviews with current and former band members, and insights from those who collaborated with Okean Elzy in Lviv and Kyiv over the years. Among those featured are:

• Vitalii Klimov, former producer,
• Serhiy Zhadan, writer,
• Vitalii Bardetskyi, former PR manager,
• Oleh “John” Suk, whose project Ye played a key role in the band’s early Lviv period,
• Sonia Sotnyk, radio host,
• Tata Kepler, public figure, producer, restaurateur, and volunteer,
  and many others.

Step by step, the film traces the band’s entire journey — from its founding in Lviv in 1994 to the present day. It covers early struggles, first successes, the move to Kyiv, participation in both Maidans, Vakarchuk’s political ventures, lineup changes, and more.

At the premiere in Lviv (photo from Okean Elzy’s Facebook page)

The filmmakers shot around 100 hours of footage, requiring a meticulous selection process to fit everything into a single feature. According to the producers, editing became the most challenging part of production. This attempt to include as much as possible within two hours explains both the film’s strengths and its imperfections.

On the one hand, viewers gain a wealth of information and follow Okean Elzy through not only the band’s evolution but also pivotal moments in Ukraine’s history. On the other hand, some parts — particularly the early Lviv period — feel condensed, which might leave newcomers slightly disoriented.

A scene from the film

Still, the film’s openness outweighs all drawbacks. It serves as a kind of confession — an honest reflection on internal conflicts, successful cases, and the band’s relationships both within and beyond its circle.

The filmmakers deliberately chose a theatrical release to fully immerse audiences in the story — and they succeeded.

Source: zaxid.net