logo
15 Unfinished Video Games That Became Classics

15 Unfinished Video Games That Became Classics

Business Mayor02-05-2025

By Ace Vincent
| Published 11 seconds ago
The game industry is well known for its sporadic propensity to release items before they are completely developed. A small number of incomplete games have survived their difficult beginnings to become cherished mainstays of gaming culture, while many more fall into obscurity. In spite of—or occasionally because of—their flaws, these titles frequently attracted fervent fan bases.
Here is a list of 15 video games that launched in incomplete states yet managed to evolve into cult classics that gamers continue to celebrate years after their troubled debuts.
Image Credit: Flickr by Vusal Musayev
Released in 2004 with numerous bugs and incomplete features, this vampire RPG was a commercial failure that nearly bankrupted developer Troika Games. The incredible writing, atmospheric world-building, and branching narrative resonated with players who looked past its technical shortcomings.
Fan-made patches have kept the game alive for nearly two decades, cementing its status as one of the most influential RPGs ever made.
Image Credit: Flickr by Sky Vlader
Launched in 2016, Hello Games' space exploration game disappointed many when they found some promised elements lacking. The little development team kept going and provided years of free upgrades that changed the game into something far more than its original concept.
From a warning message about overhyped marketing, it transformed into an inspiring comeback narrative about commitment and player confidence.
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.
Image Credit: Flickr by sons of bit
This Ukrainian-developed post-apocalyptic shooter spent nearly seven years in development hell before releasing in 2007 with numerous cut features. Despite its technical issues, the game's unforgiving gameplay, eerie atmosphere, and dynamic A-Life system captured players' imaginations.
The game spawned two sequels and influenced an entire generation of survival games with its unique blend of horror and realism.
Image Credit: Flickr by mark gooding
Surreal open-world horror game director SWERY65's game was paired with dated graphics, clunky controls, and surreal pacing issues. But beneath these issues was a surreal murder mystery with genuinely lovable characters and strangely off-kilter storytelling.
Its polarizing element—receiving perfect scores as well as horrible reviews—made it the video game equivalent of a 'so bad it's good' cult movie.
Image Credit: Flickr by pressakey.com
This Russian psychological horror game was released internationally in 2005 with a notoriously poor translation and punishing gameplay systems. The deeply philosophical narrative about a plague-ridden town became legendary among players willing to endure its difficulties.
Its unflinching examination of morality, suffering, and human nature earned it a dedicated following that celebrated its artistic vision despite its substantial flaws.
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.
Image Credit: Flickr by Rob Obsidian
This action RPG developed by Yoko Taro featured repetitive gameplay and technical issues, but its increasingly disturbing narrative and taboo themes made it impossible to forget. The game's fifth ending—nearly impossible to reach—led to the creation of Nier, another cult classic that eventually achieved mainstream success.
Drakengard's willingness to subvert player expectations and embrace uncomfortable storytelling elements earned it an intensely loyal following.
Image Credit: Flickr by pressakey.com
Released amid the bankruptcy of 38 Studios, this ambitious RPG showed incredible promise despite feeling unfinished in many areas. The fluid combat system and rich world-building captured players' imaginations even as the game's development drama unfolded in real-time.
Years later, a remaster gave this flawed gem a second chance at finding the audience it deserved.
Image Credit: Flickr by SS Games Online
Obsidian Entertainment's espionage RPG launched with numerous bugs and inconsistent production values. Despite these issues, its innovative dialogue system and genuinely consequential player choices created an experience where every playthrough felt unique.
The game's reactive storytelling was years ahead of its time, influencing future RPGs while maintaining a dedicated fan base who appreciated its ambitious scope.
Read More Wordle today: Answer and hints for February 4 (#595)
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.
Image Credit: Flickr by pressakey.com
The original Nier released in 2010 with dated graphics, repetitive gameplay, and a slow-paced opening that turned many players away. Those who persisted discovered a masterfully crafted story requiring multiple playthroughs to fully appreciate.
The game's unforgettable characters, philosophical questions, and revolutionary approach to narrative structure influenced countless games that followed, ultimately leading to the critically acclaimed sequel Nier: Automata.
Image Credit: Flickr by PlayStation.Blog
Obsidian Entertainment's spin-off in the Fallout universe launched with infamous bugs and stability issues due to an accelerated development schedule. Beyond these technical problems lay perhaps the most impressive post-apocalyptic RPG ever created, featuring intricate faction systems and meaningful player agency.
Despite its flaws, it's now widely considered the pinnacle of modern Fallout games, with fans still creating mods and content for it over a decade later.
Image Credit: Flickr by Elena Bobrovitzkaya
This European RPG was released in 2001 with a notoriously unintuitive control scheme and numerous technical issues. Players who mastered its quirks discovered an immersive world with a unique sense of progression and environmental storytelling.
Its influence on open-world design and player freedom can be seen in countless modern RPGs, making it a foundational text in gaming history despite its rough edges.
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.
Image Credit: Flickr by Mars Infomage
Black Isle Studios' philosophical RPG launched with multiple bugs and unfinished elements due to publisher pressure. The game's extraordinary writing, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes compensated for these flaws, creating an experience unlike anything else in gaming.
Its focus on narrative over combat and willingness to tackle existential questions made it the definitive example of games as a storytelling medium.
Image Credit: Flickr by Michiel Bechir
This ambitious RPG blending steampunk and fantasy elements suffered from numerous technical issues at launch. The game's incredibly detailed world, complex character creation system, and meaningful player choices created a uniquely immersive experience.
Its dedication to player freedom and reactive storytelling established it as a hidden gem for RPG enthusiasts seeking depth beyond technical polish.
Image Credit: Flickr by pressakey.com
This indie first-person shooter/RPG hybrid launched with bewildering mechanics and an impenetrable user interface. Beneath these obstacles lay a remarkably ambitious cyberpunk experience with incredible atmosphere and philosophical depth.
The game's dedication to player freedom and unique vision has earned it a dedicated following that appreciates its uncompromising approach to game design.
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.
Image Credit: Flickr by Gamer's Resource
While mechanically sound, this third-person shooter initially appeared as a generic military game until players discovered its incomplete marketing told only half the story. Its devastating critique of military shooters and player complicity in virtual violence created a substantial cognitive dissonance.
The game's willingness to confront players with uncomfortable truths about their enjoyment of digital violence earned it lasting respect among those seeking meaningful narrative experiences.
Image Credit: DepositPhotos
More than just problematic development cycles, these fifteen games serve as examples of how fervent communities can honor and cherish creative work, even when it manifests itself in flawed forms. Each title provided something distinct that was unavailable elsewhere, demonstrating that true invention frequently has flaws.
These games' lasting influence serves as a reminder that, although technical refinement is crucial, it's not necessarily the deciding element in producing experiences that have a profound impact on players and shape gaming culture for years to come.
DepositPhotos
Like Go2Tutors's content? Follow us on MSN.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

In a Ukrainian strip club, the war is laid bare
In a Ukrainian strip club, the war is laid bare

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

In a Ukrainian strip club, the war is laid bare

When Lisa, 20, laces into her ultra-high heels for her shift at a strip club in Ukraine's Kharkiv, she knows that aside from dancing, she will have to comfort traumatised soldiers. Since Russia's 2022 invasion, exhausted troops are the main clientele of the Flash Dancers club in the centre of the northeastern city, just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Russian forces. For some customers, it provides an "escape" from the war, said Valerya Zavatska -- a 25-year-old law graduate who runs the club with her mother, an ex-dancer. But many are not there just for the show. They "want to talk about what hurts," she said. The dancers act as confidantes to soldiers bruised -- mentally and physically -- by a three-year war with no end in sight. "Very often" they want to discuss their experiences and feelings, Lisa told AFP in a fitness centre, where the dancers practised choreography to an electro remix of the "Carmen" opera ahead of that night's show. "The problem is that they come in sober, normal, fine. Then they drink, and that's when the darkness begins," said Zhenia, a 21-year-old dancer. Instead of watching the performance, soldiers sometimes sit alone at the bar, crying. Some even show the women videos from the battlefield -- including wounded comrades or the corpses of Russian soldiers. "It can be very, very difficult, so I personally ask them not to show me, because I take it to heart too much," Lisa said. But Zhenia -- who used to study veterinary medicine -- said she watches the footage with something a professional interest, trying to understand how a soldier could have been saved. - 'Family gathering' - When performance time arrived, they put on red underwear, strapped into 20-centimetre (eight inch) platform shoes and covered their bodies with glitter -- a trick to stop married men getting too close, as the shiny specks would stick to them. The music started. One dancer twirled around a pole, another listened attentively to a customer, while a third sat on a man's lap. The Flash Dancers describe themselves as more "Moulin Rouge" than a strip club, and say the dancers do not enter sexual relations for money. Prostitution -- illegal in Ukraine -- is not uncommon in areas near the frontline. Most soldiers -- though not all -- respect the boundaries. Sometimes friendships have been struck up. Zhenia recalled how one soldier wrote a postcard to her, picked out by his mother -- a "wonderful woman" who now follows Zhenia on social media and sometimes sends her messages. "I know their children, their mothers," she told AFP. Some tell stories from their vacations, talk about their lives before the war and even come back with their wives. "It's like a family gathering," said Nana, a 21-year-old dancer with jet-black hair. - Killed dancer - A Colombian soldier fighting for Ukraine sipped sparkling wine on a red bench having paid almost $10 to get into the club. Coming here "clears your mind," the 37-year-old ex-policeman -- known as "Puma" -- told AFP. "It entertains us a little. It takes our minds off the war." But even in the club's darkened basement, the war has a way of creeping inside. Many of the regulars have been wounded and the dancers sometimes take gifts to hospitals. And "an awful lot of guys who have come to us" have been killed, said Zavatska. "Just this month alone, two died, and that's just the ones we know," she said, adding that one left behind a one-year-old infant. A Russian strike in 2022 killed one of the group's dancers -- Lyudmila -- as well as her husband, also a former employee of the club. She was pregnant at the time. Miraculously, her child survived. The club closes at 10.00pm, an hour before a curfew starts. Air raid alerts sometimes force them to stay longer, until they can head home in a brief period of relative safety. But in Kharkiv that never lasts long. The dancers, like everybody else, are often woken by Russia's overnight drone and missile barrages. Even after a sleepless night, the women head back, determined to put on a performance. "The show must go on," Zavatska said. "We have to smile." led-oc/jc/tw

Putin's suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris
Putin's suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Putin's suspected daughter found working in anti-war galleries in Paris

Nastya Rodionova, a Russian writer and artist who has been based in Paris since 2022, had only met gallery manager Luiza Rozova in passing at events before she learned who the 22-year-old's parents were. Described by a number of people as a 'very nice and well-mannered girl,' Rozova is the daughter of a Russian woman named Svetlana Krivonogikh — and, according to investigative journalists, Russian President Vladimir Putin. After learning about Rozova's family background, Rodionova took to social media on June 4 to share it, highlighting the fact that the galleries where Rozova works primarily showcase Russian and Ukrainian anti-war art. The post quickly went viral — but the reactions were divided. Some members of the Russian emigre community argued Rozova had no control over who her parents are and it shouldn't be held against her. Others agreed it was ethically questionable that a family member of the Kremlin leader worked in anti-war art galleries as Russia was waging war against Ukraine, and praised the artist for revealing it. 'We are talking about artists (showcased in the galleries) who fled the regime,' Rodionova told the Kyiv Independent. 'Many of them are in danger. They shared all their personal information with the gallery staff without knowing who works there — it upset them very much (to learn about her).' The Kyiv Independent reached out to Rozova for comment through her employer. He acknowledged that he had passed along the request for comment and 'if she considers it possible to answer' she would do so. As of publication, Rozova has not replied. In most of Rozova's photos that were posted on social media or taken by media outlets for interviews, her face is deliberately cropped or turned away — a subtle yet telling choice, which some believe is due to her uncanny resemblance to the Russian leader. In the few photos of Rozova where her face is fully visible, she does bear unmistakable resemblance to Putin. 'Listen, judging by (Putin's) younger photos — probably, yes, I do look like him. But as it turns out, there are actually a lot of people who resemble Vladimir Vladimirovich,' she told GQ Russia in 2021. In the interview, Rozova wasn't directly asked whether she was related to the Russian leader. Rozova first attracted international attention in 2020, when the independent Russian investigative outlet Proekt published an expose detailing the substantial wealth of her mother, Svetlana Krivonogikh, who at the time possessed over $100 million in assets. Proekt's investigation revealed Krivonogikh's longstanding ties to Putin and noted that her daughter Rozova 'bears an uncanny resemblance' to the Russian leader, fueling the widespread speculation about her parentage. In the rare instances that Rozova has granted media interviews since then, she has never outright acknowledged or denied that Putin is her father. Dmitri Dolinski — director of the L Association, which oversees both Studio Albatros and the L Galerie where Rozova is employed — confirmed to Rodionova that Rozova's mother is Krivonogikh, she said. Krivonogikh was sanctioned by the U.K. in 2023 due to her stake in Bank Rossiya, which has, among other things, supported investments in Russian-occupied Crimea following the illegal annexation of 2014. In her original viral social media post, the Russian artist Rodionova stressed the importance of Studio Albatros and L Galerie as cultural spaces showcasing Russian and Ukrainian anti-war artists — and why that made the presence of the Kremlin leader's alleged daughter there problematic. 'In the context of Russia's ongoing war of aggression, people organizing any public events involving anti-war artists — and in some cases direct victims of the regime — must act with maximum transparency and sensitivity,' Rodionova wrote. Rodionova previously participated in some gallery events but has chosen to no longer do so. 'We must know who we are working with and make informed decisions about whether we are okay with (exhibiting art there). My personal answer in this case is no.' Given the Russian and Ukrainian artists' outspoken anti-war positions, there is a potential risk associated with disclosing their personal information to L Association — particularly given the lack of clarity around Rozova's ties to the Russian regime. One artist who collaborated with the gallery had even welcomed Rozova into their home without knowing her family connections, Rodionova added. When Rodionova first asked about Rozova's background, Dolinski reportedly told her that he does not look into his employees' families. At the same time, Rodionova noted, it appears he hired Rozova while knowing who her mother was and the fact that her mother was already subject to U.K. sanctions. Amid the ongoing controversy, the L Association appears to be standing behind Rozova. 'We regret that some voices have called for forms of stigmatization or 'collective punishment,' and we remind everyone that no one should be judged by their origins, birthplace, heritage, or any other criteria beyond their control. This is a red line we will not cross,' the organization wrote on Facebook on June 9, although they didn't mention Rozova by name. In response to Rodionova's post, a number of Russian emigres argued in the comments that Rozova should not be held accountable for the crimes of her alleged father. They claimed she has made a public anti-war stance in social media — although her actual social media account is disputed — and pointed to her residence in Paris as evidence that she is unlikely part of Putin's close inner circle. The exact number of Putin's children remains unconfirmed. It's known that he has two daughters from his marriage to Lyudmila Putina, who he divorced in 2014. In 2024, the Russian investigative outlet Dossier Center reported that he also has two young sons with Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast long rumored to be his partner. The two boys reportedly live in Putin's residence on Lake Valdai in northwestern Russia. Since coming forward with her revelation about Putin's alleged daughter Rozova, Rodionova told the Kyiv Independent that she has dealt not only with public slander but also threats made against her. 'I want to believe that these people have expressed their personal opinion but lots of messages were suspiciously similar,' she said, suggesting that there was an organized campaign of retaliation. Rodionova pushed back against those attacking her for raising questions about Rozova's parentage, arguing that they were distorting the reasons behind her decision. Regardless of Rozova's personal politics or the extent to which she has or hasn't benefited from the Russian regime, exiled artists like Rodionova emphasize that the ongoing dangers posed by Russia's full-scale war require extra caution and transparency when it comes to who is welcomed into anti-war cultural spaces. Read also: Controversial Russian literature prize sparks debate on separating culture from war crimes Hi there, it's Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this article. The story of Putin's alleged daughter working in anti-war art galleries in Paris is one of those crazy stories that make you realize culture and politics are never that far removed from each other, especially when it comes to Russia's war against Ukraine. I hope by reading this article you also reflected on questions of accountability, transparency, and trust during wartime. If you like reading this sort of material, please consider supporting us by becoming a paid member of the Kyiv Independent today. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.

'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative
'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative

Yahoo

time15 hours ago

  • Yahoo

'Ukrainians have been stripped of illusion of control' — Filmmaker Kateryna Gornostai on Russia's war, cinema and reclaiming the narrative

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, film director Kateryna Gornostai found herself questioning whether she would continue working. "I had this feeling that life — at least professionally — had come to an end," she says. "Who needed directors or screenwriters, then? At most, volunteers were needed, but hardly anyone involved in filmmaking." The urgency of documenting the war soon became clear, but emotionally picking up a camera didn't come easily. The 36-year-old filmmaker struggled with fear and doubt, knowing any shot she filmed could be her last. "It felt scary that you're filming, and these could be your last shots because now a missile will hit here. And that's all that will be left of you." Yet, she did return. In 2023, Gornostai began working on her first film following the start of the full-scale war. Her latest documentary "Timestamp," was screened at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival — making her the first Ukrainian director in nearly three decades to compete for the Golden Bear. The last was Kira Muratova's "Three Stories" in 1997. Gornostai attended the Berlinale only briefly, arriving just for the film's screening on Feb. 20, days after giving birth to her son. "Timestamp" follows students and teachers across different parts of Ukraine, including cities regularly pounded with Russian missiles and drones, showing what everyday school life looks like in the war-torn country. The film is both intimate and unflinching, offering a glimpse into how kids endure the hardship of growing up under constant bombardment. Gornostai dedicated the film to her younger brother Maksym, killed in action in 2023 while she was still filming. On June 11, the movie premiered in Ukraine. "It should be both fun and sad at the same time," she told the Kyiv Independent days before the screening. "That's what we hope for." Read also: Author Yuri Andrukhovych on Ukrainian dissident art in Soviet times Themes of school and adolescence are in the spotlight of Gornostai's work, with autobiographical and personal elements running through it. Just over a month before Russia launched its all-out invasion, Gornostai's debut feature film "Stop-Zemlia" premiered in Ukraine in January 2022. The movie earned recognition both at home and abroad, winning the Crystal Bear in the Berlinale Generation 14plus section, a category for movies that explore the life of children and teenagers. "Timestamp" has the same focus, yet different story, showing a new reality that Ukrainian education is facing — remote learning, damaged infrastructure, constant air raids, studying in the subway, and the psychological trauma of kids at war. One of the most important scenes in the film for Gornostai is the funeral of the school principal in the town of Romny, Sumy Oblast, killed in a Russian drone strike on the local school in August 2023. It's the only moment in the film where Russia is directly accused of aggression against Ukraine, the phrase spoken by a priest. "Because already, so much pain has touched nearly every person. Everyone has experienced some kind of loss — from their homes to their loved ones. Many have lost the most precious thing of all: life itself." "This school didn't live to see its hundredth anniversary, which would've been next year. It survived World War II, but it didn't survive this war," Gornostai says. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, around 3,500 educational institutions have been damaged, and around 400 completely destroyed, Deputy Education Minister Yevhen Kudriavets said in late February of 2024. The Euromaidan Revolution was a turning point for Ukraine — and for a new generation of filmmakers, including Kateryna Gornostai. She was studying in Moscow at the time of the Maidan protests in 2013 but returned to Kyiv to document the unfolding events. "We all started making documentaries that explored civil society," she says. "It was a moment of growth — personal and professional. You're filming real events but also thinking about how they'll come together as a story." She made two documentaries during that time — "Maidan is everywhere" and "Euromaidan." Rough Cut, of which she was a co-author. While many turned their cameras toward the front lines of Russia's war in Ukraine's east that followed, Gornostai chose a different path. "I'm very scared," she admits. "Even on Maidan, I couldn't stand between the Berkut (riot police) and the protesters like some of our colleagues. I stayed in the rear, and I remember thinking — there are stories here, too." More than a decade later, she sees that moment as the foundation of a powerful wave of Ukrainian cinema. "(The Euromaidan Revolution became) a separation from that post-Soviet, Eastern European blend — because it used to feel like our cinema was perceived as part of Russian cinema prior. During the interview, Gornostai's tone sharpens when the conversation turns to Russia's cultural influence. For decades, Moscow cast a long shadow over Ukrainian cinema. Even after Ukraine's independence, Russian money and distribution networks kept a grip on the country's film industry. That influence didn't vanish with the invasion — it just evolved. Since the start of the war against Ukraine in 2014, Russia's film industry has shifted to propaganda. Yet, Russian films still screen at major international festivals, and Russian actors who support the war against Ukraine continue to win awards. "Movies are just one small part of a much bigger (Russian) cultural push," Gornostai says. "In fact, there is a huge campaign that has lasted for many, many decades, involving enormous financial resources, all aimed at creating an image (abroad). This is something that we (in Ukraine) have not done. And what we are trying to do now is to build some kind of postcolonial lens through which Ukraine should now be seen." 'Most of the films that have been screened somewhere weren't made thanks to the circumstances in Ukraine, but rather in spite of them.' Abroad, she says, fascination with Russian culture persists, while the understanding of Ukraine still lags behind. "The fact that there are signs of genocide committed by Russia and that the Holodomor could have already been recognized as a genocide a century back — very few people know that abroad. But they do know the great Russian ballet, literature — all those things that were deliberately built up, promoted, and became part of a certain stereotype." According to Gornostai, for a long time, there was a prevailing belief in Ukraine that the answer to Russian propaganda should be counter-propaganda. But she thinks that Ukraine should be creating high-quality cinema, not propaganda of its own. "We simply need something completely different that will make us stand out and represent ourselves on the international stage. I think quality is very important now in this world," she adds. Gornostai believes that the current crisis in Ukrainian cinema stems more from domestic policy than the war itself. Even before Russia's full-scale invasion, government inaction had weakened the industry. Following the invasion, funding for the State Film Agency was slashed. In 2025, only Hr 204.1 million ($4.9 million) is allocated, nearly 70% less than in 2024. 'Most of the films that have been screened somewhere weren't made thanks to the circumstances in Ukraine, but rather in spite of them,' says Gornostai. 'They were funded either by private money, individual initiatives, or through international grants, producers, or festival pitching awards that made production possible. Documentary filmmaking can survive in this way.' A standout example is '20 Days in Mariupol' by director Mstyslav Chernov, which documented the Russian siege of the city in 2022 and won Ukraine's first Oscar in 2024 for Best Documentary. 'This is a huge victory for the truth itself. It preserves and engraves the history of Mariupol and no one will be able to distort it anymore,' Gornostai says. Gornostai's new feature film, "Antonivka," is expected to be released in 2027. Set in the aftermath of Ukraine's victory in the war, the film explores death. "Even when this war ends, it won't truly be over," says Gornostai. "Because already, so much pain has touched nearly every person. Everyone has experienced some kind of loss — from their homes to their loved ones. Many have lost the most precious thing of all: life itself." She believes that once the war ends, there will be a difficult period of collective reckoning — a time when people begin to process their grief. Her film, she says, is an attempt to open that conversation. "There's this ephemeral law that time heals. It works very strangely. It doesn't really heal. That's not the whole phrase," Gornostai says. "Time simply passes, and it's as if layers of new experiences start to build up after that very significant moment in your life — for example, the death of someone close to you. These layers grow, and it's as if they gradually distance you from that moment." "That's the subject I'm grappling with now — and it's a subject many others are facing too," she continues. "How do we grieve that kind of loss? How do we reflect on it? The film deals with many kinds of deaths, but at its core, one of its central elements is the acceptance of your own death — the one that awaits you." One of the central figures in the film is an elderly man who lived through famine and war. As Gornostai speaks, she recalls her two grandfathers who passed away. "Ukrainians have now been stripped of the illusion of control," the filmmaker says. "But still, I'd like to have the privilege of dying at a time when I know that my family will remain here, that people speaking the Ukrainian language will remain here, and that there is peace and life on this land. And that I am leaving it behind. Not dying in a moment of total turbulence and uncertainty about what will happen tomorrow — as if I'm leaving everyone in the middle of that." "So this is another privilege: a privilege to die in a free country. And this is one of the motivations for making this film." Read also: Wondering where to start with Dostoevsky? Try his Ukrainian contemporaries instead Hello there! This is Kateryna Denisova, the author of this piece. As Russia's war against Ukraine grinds on, Ukrainian filmmakers like Kateryna Gornostai are capturing stories that reveal the reality on the ground. I hope many people will watch these films and learn more about Ukrainian cinema and its directors through interviews like this one. Your support helps make this work possible. Please consider contributing to sustain our reporting. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store