Birds of Paradise (2008 film)

Birds of Paradise (Ukrainian: «Райські птахи», romanized: Raiski ptakhy; Russian: «Райские птицы», romanized: Rayskiye ptitsy) is a 2008 Ukrainian drama film directed by Roman Balayan. It was entered into the 30th Moscow International Film Festival.^[1] In 2009, the film won the Nika Film Award for Best Film of the CIS and Baltic States.^[2]

Birds of Paradise
Film poster
Directed by	Roman Balayan
Written by	Rustam Ibragimbekov
Produced by	Oleg Kokhan
Starring	Oksana Akinshina
Cinematography	Bogdan Verzhbitsky
Music by	Vadim Khrapachiv
Release date	June 2008 (2008-06) (Moscow)
Running time	94 minutes
Country	Ukraine
Language	Russian

Plot

The film takes place in the USSR in the early 1980s. Mass persecutions seem to be in the past, but listening to foreign radio stations is still prohibited, and it is dangerous to express one's thoughts in the presence of outsiders. Every knock on the door still makes me shudder. Words of truth sound only in kitchens, behind curtained windows, and make their way in typewritten books - "self-published". They are passed quietly, slowly, only to verified friends, fearing persecution. The main characters have to oppose the inhuman state machine, put their lives on the path to true freedom. Nobody and nothing can stop a person.

Cast

• Oksana Akinshina
• Andriy Kuzychiev
• Oleg Yankovskiy
• Yehor Pazenko
• Serhiy Romaniuk
• Serhiy Siplivy
• Alla Sergiyko as Grandmother