Russia pirates by advertise newly released film about 1990s Ukraine as a movie about Russia

“Rock Paper Grenade,” the debut feature film of Ukrainian filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk released on April 11, 2024, is being promoted on Russian pirate websites with a description implying it’s a movie about “growing up in Russia.” However, the film is based on a book by the renowned Ukrainian author and soldier Artem Chekh who wrote a partly autobiographical story about his youth in Cherkasy, Ukraine.

Tsilyk shared a screenshot on her social media expressing her shock: “Our film is being promoted (thankfully not shown) on Russian pirate websites, with the false claim that ‘Rock Paper Grenade’ is a drama about a young man’s coming-of-age in Russia in the 1990s. I was truly taken aback.”

“Rock Paper Grenade” received a special award at the 53rd Italian Giffoni Film Festival in the Generator +16 category. The film was awarded The CGS Award (Social-cultural Cineclubs for Young People) — Percorsi Creativi 2023.

The jury justified the award by stating, “The film convincingly portrays the story of abandonment and caring intertwined with clearly defined and formed roles of men and women in Ukraine in the 1990s. The shared passion for classical music unites the life of the protagonist, whose events are told through temporal ellipses, and the life of Felix, a former soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The film “Rock Paper Grenade” is an adaptation of Artem Chekh’s novel “Who Are You?” The film tells the story of a boy named Tymofiy coming of age in the 1990s and his family, friends, and relationship with a former counterintelligence officer and GRU soldier named Felix. This man, deeply traumatized by various wars, plays an important role in the teenager’s life.

“Being friends with such people is dangerous and fun. Just like growing up in the 90s in general,” notes the teaser description of the film.

The role of Felix was played by the well-known Ukrainian writer Yurii Izdryk.

Copy editing: Hannah Varacalli, Terra Friedman