A cosmic journey of love and survival: ‘U Are the Universe’
An unexpected hero in the vastness of space
Imagine being an intergalactic trucker, navigating the cosmos for the largest nuclear waste disposal company in Eastern Europe. This is the life of Andriy Melnyk, a Ukrainian everyman whose mundane existence takes a dramatic turn when a blinding flash of light leaves him stranded in space. His robot assistant, Maxim, delivers the devastating news: Earth has exploded, and Andriy is the last living soul in the universe. Thus begins the extraordinary tale of “U Are the Universe”, a sci-fi romantic dramedy that marks the feature directorial debut of Pavlo Ostrikov.
A debut to remember
Produced by Anna Yatsenko and Volodymyr Yatsenko, known for their work on the award-winning “Atlantis”, this film is set to premiere on September 7 in the Discovery section of the Toronto International Film Festival. The international rights have been picked up by True Colours, signaling a promising start for Ostrikov’s offbeat debut.
Watch the teaser for “U Are the Universe”
A tale of love and loneliness
The narrative kicks into high gear when Andriy, portrayed by Volodymyr Kravchuk, receives a mysterious message from a Frenchwoman whose abandoned space station is slowly descending towards Saturn’s rings. With only Maxim for company, Andriy decides to embark on a perilous journey across the cosmos to save the galaxy’s last woman. “Maybe it’s time to do something good,” Andriy muses, “at least at the end of the world.”
The inspiration behind the film
Ostrikov, speaking from Kyiv, shares his lifelong fascination with space. Growing up in a small Ukrainian town, he recalls the moment he realized the Earth is just a tiny speck in the vast, mysterious expanse of space. “We don’t know what’s behind this — space, the solar system, and so on,” he reflects. “It’s surreal that we live our life in an office, and at the same time we are flying through this black, mysterious place.”
A production amidst chaos
The director’s journey to bring “U Are the Universe” to life has been anything but smooth. The film was conceived long before the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022. Ostrikov initially developed the idea for a short play in 2011, which evolved into a feature-film script by 2015. By 2018, he was pitching the project at various festivals, securing financing in 2020, and going into production the following year.
However, the Russian invasion in early 2022 disrupted the final stages of production. Both producer Volodymyr Yatsenko and lead actor Kravchuk were conscripted into the army, with Kravchuk now serving as a war correspondent. French actress Alexia Depicker, who plays Catherine, was hesitant to travel to Kyiv during the conflict. Ultimately, her voice was used for scenes where Catherine communicates via intergalactic voicemail, while Ukrainian actress Daria Plahtiy stepped in to physically portray the character.
A reflection on love and isolation
Reflecting on the turmoil of recent years, Ostrikov acknowledges that if he had started the movie this year, it might have been a different story. Despite the changes in the world, the search for love remains timeless and universal. The coronavirus pandemic, he notes, reminded us of the importance of finding someone who understands us and the difficulty of being alone.
Looking ahead: A new project on the horizon
Ostrikov is already working on his second feature, tentatively titled “Tragedy”. This musical dramedy, set in post-war Ukraine, reimagines the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice. It follows a professor of Greek mythology who wakes up one day to find that the gods of ancient Greek myth have returned to Earth.
While “U Are the Universe” was challenging to produce with a limited budget, Ostrikov’s ambitions for “Tragedy” remain high. “To be honest, I want to create a small story in one flat — a couple of actors, that’s all. But ‘Tragedy’ is an epic story, and I can’t hide from that. We have so little budget and such big ambitions.”
A new chapter begins
Like millions of Ukrainians, Ostrikov faces an uncertain future, knowing he could be called to serve on the frontlines at any moment. With his first feature set to debut in Toronto, he is aware that a new chapter in his life is about to begin. “It was so difficult for me to make this movie,” he says. “I don’t know what it’s like to live without it — to let it go.”