“Slovo” House. Unfinished Novel

Set in 1930s Kharkiv, this drama follows Volodymyr Akimov, an aspiring poet from the provinces who secures a place in the luxury Slovo House, a residence designed for artists. While Akimov believes his writing is brilliant, his peers dismiss his work. His situation changes when a political intelligence officer offers him authorship of an existing play. After signing a confidentiality agreement, Akimov gains the recognition he craves, unaware of the consequences. The story explores the persecution of Ukrainian intellectuals under a totalitarian regime during a period of mass genocide.

The film was directed by Taras Tomenko, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Liubov Yakymchuk. This is the second feature Tomenko has directed, following Slovo House in 2017. Produced by Fresh Production Group, the movie stars Dmytro Oliinyk as the protagonist, alongside Viacheslav Dovzhenko, Nina Naboka, Maryna Koshkina, Valeriia Khodos, and Yurii Odynokyi. The credited cast includes 34 performers. Released on May 9, 2024, the production has a runtime of 120 minutes.