World premiere
The Mousetrap
If war wasn’t so ugly, the film would even be funny at times, thanks to one of the supporting characters.
Anton is alone in a bunker on the front line when the entrance is hit and the bunker collapses. The soldier is trapped. All the initial optimistic efforts to escape the situation are hopeless. Attempts to establish radio communication with the outside world do not succeed. Fortunately, there is water, food, batteries, but it is becoming increasingly clear that... Then a companion comes from somewhere, a rat. Is this little creature the last living soul to witness the end of Anton?
For obvious reasons, Ukrainian films are particularly welcome to participate in festivals at the moment. However, the country of origin cannot be the only argument. This film is about the ongoing war, but it is also a film that is universally understandable. A person is trapped, and the author is interested in how he passes through stages of fear, hope, anxiety. In the conditions of war, Ukrainians certainly need films about patriotism, but it is good when these are not blatant. Excellent work from the lead actor. And very precise direction from the film’s author. With a skilful sense of pacing, the essence has been successfully captured and poured into well-planned shots for smooth editing.
Mihkel Möölman
Serhii Kastornykh (1982) is a Ukrainian director, screenwriter, and producer who presents the audience with dynamic and sharply dramatic stories. He began his film career as the scriptwriter for Lyubomyr Levytsky’s thriller-comedy “#Selfieparty” (2016). As a screenwriter, he has also gained recognition for Christina Tynkevych’s drama “How is Katia” (2022) and Akhtem Setablaev’s renowned war film “Myrnyi-21” (2023). However, Kastornykh made his directorial debut in 2020 with the short thriller “The Dark Waves of Styx”, which tells the story of a math teacher’s transformation into an avenging angel. Serhii Kastornykh has also collaborated with Aleksandr Avsharov on two documentaries, which are both dealing with the subject of war similar to Kastornykh’s first feature film “The Mousetrap”.
The War in My Head (2022, doc, co-dir), Мишоловка (The Mousetrap, 2024)
Grand Prix for The Best Film, grant of 20 000 euros from the city of Tallinn, Award for Best Director, grant of 5000€ from Alexela
