User reviews

I'm an Eastern European queer born in Socialist times, so the story isn't exactly new to me. Almost all of us have usually far grimmer tales to tell, like asking a guy for a light in Opera Park and suddenly finding oneself in a basement pressed for names of fellow queers by a phone book slammed on the fingers. So I'm a bit put off by how tame this all is, a little bit of menace amidst extremely careless behavior - we were way more ingenious back then.

But it's wonderfully photographed for sure and Prior and Zagorodny are insanely hot - their love scenes look like they were choreographed by Matthew Bourne. To top it off, Zagorodny bears a remarkable resemblance to Tom Cruise, which is definitely not coincidental. So this is the film for all the gays fantasizing after watching Top Gun - prior to this one the gayest air force movie ever, even though they hid the subtext well. And it's perhaps an elegant jab at an actor who does action movies at 60 but still hasn't had his Jodie Foster moment.

This is the first film from Estonia I watched. Films are always a nice way to experience the countries, cultures and stories otherwise I wouldn't have tried.

It's a sleek and smooth film. Good production value, nice scenes, adequate actors... But it feels a bit too conventional, bit cliche, bit too predictable. The military base forever under a cold blue cast, rain in the emergency landing scene, the blacksea beach forever bleached under warm summer tone, the last theatre scene that looks like a cover photo of a fashion magazine with too much glamour filter... Music of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky to heighten the emotions... And lines from Shakespeare, of course.

There's nothing wrong for a film to be conventional. It's a business after all, and however wonderful a story, it has to sell first for it to be heard by the public. But I wished at times, that the production rather have cut some of those cliches, and really, I mean really went down to the depth of the emotions of the characters. Then the tragic love story would have been much more heartfelt and real.

Definitely well made and worth a watch... but not a masterpiece.

PS. I must question the choice of English language for the film. Yes, I see it's a UK-Estonian joint venture, yes, I see the main actor is English, and yes it may sell easier internationally... But having actors speaking in 'funny accent' is certainly one aspect that takes away the sense of reality from the the drama, especially because in most English speaking countries, foreign accent invariably invokes a negative connotation. I would have rather liked it in full Estonian or English with no particular accent.

Imagine, if you will, a tense time where if the Air Force discovered one was in a same sex relationship, it was grounds to be locked away in prison for five years. This came from Estonia must be a big deal for Eastern European countries, which are still super conservative when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. But why was this shot in English then?

Obvious, it is a beautiful film. For landscapes, good intentions around a real case as manifesto, for the moral conflicts, shadow of fear and the good remind of Stravinski creation. But it remains one ad usum Delphini film. Sure, the memories about Brokeback Mountain and sparkles of Doctor Zhivago are useful but as a sort of support. I just love the work of Tom Prior and Oleg Zagorodnii , I appreciate, in high measure, the performance of Diana Pozharskaya but something seems ignored or missed or to easy used. The cause, maybe, the film is proposed to a Western public. And I admitt, I do not know the book inspiring the movie. But, not ignoring its beauty, I feel it deserves be better. More than beautiful, soft bitter, adapted to a large public taste, using silly dialogues because it is just hard to accept the naivety of the two men and the way to escape to the eye of officials. But, I reppeate, it is just a beautiful film. Not perfect, because, behind the sparks of gestures, intense sad love story, part of army and crumbs of Soviet life style, are too many holes and large unrealism. It seems too...didactic. Naif, fake. Sure, my expectations about it were more than high. But the result is only decent for few mistakes who are good saboters of a charming story remaining promissing sketch. Sure, handsome actors and not bad script. But , maybe as result to be an Eastern European, the feeling about something is missing remains. So, decent, with few scenes just lovely.

If you've seen Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain you won't feel very compelled to see this, but you should. The main premise is quite similar: two lovers in an extremely homophobic environment form a bubble where their love can thrive through stealing time from their own ordinary obligtions to keep their love alive. The context is slightly different, since we're dealing with a Cold-War airforce in Russia where homosexuality is punishable by prison. The two male leads are conving and attractive, with erotic scenes on the right side of tasteful. As usual, epilogues in these sorts of stories tend to be predictable, but as with everything else, it's the road that matters, not the goal. Also, the fact that it's based on a true story lends it some more weight to keep it from turning into an amalgam of Titanic and Brokeback Mountain.

An outstanding experience in cinema. Firebird is a piece of history from USSR Cold War worth its stunning images in gold!. This movie is so filled with passion and filled with amazing performances you can't help but to watch in aw. Highly recommended! I saw this at Outfest and I must say of all the films I saw, this one was truly my personal favorite and the best picture I saw. When it is out, do not hesitate to seek it out!

In the episode where Sergei develops a photos, we see a close-up of his hands with long nails and a manicure. Nobody told Tom Prior that it was impossible in the Soviet army? ;)

This is a lovestory you need to see! The forbitten story of two souls so deeply in love just makes you stop and hope, that nobody can never catch them in act. The storyline just makes you stop a heartbeat and fall into their challenges and dreams.

Actors were really well chosen and ofcourse good to watch due do absolutely stunning appearances. The audenticity of Soviet Era was well played with all the machinery, buildings, outfits and hairstyles. Costume makers have brilliantly served the styles of this strict and conservative era.

And ofcourse bonus points for such a important message to share with the world!

Loved it!

The acting is stilted, the accent feels forced, and generally the majority of dialogue feels unnatural. It's hard to stay in a scene because the acting almost immediately takes you out of the movie with each odd gesture, turn of the head, or general interaction between characters. While watching you wonder: is this how people really interact? Then you wonder: ok is it the acting, the writing, or the directing? Something is very off, if not all three. Also, the pacing of the first 20 minutes is a bit weird as the relationship that blossoms between the 2 leads feels unearned in the initial stages.

The leads are insanely handsome so that helps, but good lord this is a tough watch.

Heard so much hype about this movie and I was really looking forward to watching it.

Five Minutes in and Tom Prior ruined it all for me, for a co-writer to cast themself as a lead in the movie and not even attempt a localized accent that fits the setting of the film should be enough to remove his right to act ever again. (This is ignoring the obvious issue with the English language being used throughout the film).

The basic storyline could have been great, but was completely overshadowed by the failed attempt to act by either of the two leads.

Disappointing from start to finish. I did get some good laughs from the wig though.

Brilliant artwork and meticulous costume bring alive an era in Soviet history which was shaded by the brutal laws of the regime. In defiance of all the dangers, Sergey and Ramon consummate their love for each other. The intimate scenes are carefully choreographed. An overall beautiful piece. Would advise the makers to add closed captions to the movie as the Russian accent is sometimes hard to understand.

I have enjoyed the true story behind the movie, and being russian - can fully understand the tragedy. But sorry to say - the main actor (Tom Prior) looks nothing like a Soviet (or Russian) soldier! He's done too much work out and this looks completely unrealistic and plastic... More of a Hollywood type of hero. I understand this is a movie and a picture on the screen has to be nice, but his nails & wig drag attention way too much as well.

As usual, an almost happy ending does not count. Heart wrenching to want to empathize, not cos it is fiction but knowing that its based on a true story will now not give the consolation to just shake off the despair that it was just reel, a movie, so all is good. It will haunt you knowing all that tragic pain happened for real in the past. Excellent movie.

I expected something better from this film, but despite its story, which is an indictment of the Soviet system and that era, it failed. The story is simple - Soviet pilot loves Soviet private soldier, and true love has impossible obstacles to surmount. Something here to get your teeth in, but what I saw was the failure of dentures to bite hard. As cinema it is formulaic and looked to me to be like a cross between that kind of British film made in the 1950's with 'heroes' and stereotyped Germans, and a weepie with all the cliches that films of the 'old' school starring Jane Wyman or Ingrid Berman. For a start, their first 'orgasmic' encounter half underwater has two jet planes flying noisily past, which was the typical tactic to not offend or be too explicit. There is a firework scene in David Lean's 'Summer Madness' which does the same thing with fireworks exploding in the sky. As for the acting department, the two leads did their best, but their Russian accents were a big, big mistake, as authentic languages are quite simply authentic, and giving the English language sounds fake. And at times strained and hard to understand. I watched it with subtitles. In one scene one of their superiors says, 'What about your plans?' and I heard 'What about your glans?' I wept with laughter. And then there was the use of music - generic as most films are at the moment except for the inevitable Tchaikovsky. Our heroes love Ballet with a big 'B' as all homosexuals have to love Tchaikovsky, and of course love to watch men in tights and women being either lifted up or allowed their solo dances. And then there is Stravinsky and 'Firebird'. I will give no spoilers concerning that, with one of our heroes with tears in his eyes. It is, as it were, a key moment, and as some cynics would say, there was not a dry eye in the house. I am trying to restrain myself from the heterosexual necessities of this story, but true though it is and had to be, my mind wandered back to 'Brokeback Mountain'. I concluded that this film, which is not gay in any sense of the word, was made to appeal to the widest of audiences, and hopefully for Russians to see and ponder over their prejudices past and present. If it does reach Russia I hope they dub it, and I never thought I would have to say that! So why a 6 for this? It is professional. The two male lovers have muscles to die for and faces to match and there is nothing like physical beauty on the screen to sway an audience in its direction. The rules of the game cannot be subverted by the ordinary or ugly. I hate that notion, but accept it, and looked upon the film as a variation of 'All That Heaven Allows' (remember Douglas Sirk, Jane Wyman and Rock Hudson?) It woefully works.

Excellent production documenting love in the repressive Soviet era, which although is an historical piece also sadly reflects today's Russian circumstances - many life takeaways here. Well filmed tense drama, filled with love, happiness and passion. Very enjoyable to watch and hope this film gets good distribution globally as its a quality well rounded movie.

Very soulful movie. I highly recommend it in moments of despair, when it' seems there is no meaning in life. But this meaning is in Love. Only Love gives wings and saves us, even in severe difficult conditions. Even in the conditions of a small lost military unit in the late Soviet Union. Roman and Sergei Love feeling is spontaneous, but it's true, sincere. When tears are running because of the possible death of a loved one, brave pilot. And when the soul rejoices from the consciousness that he is alive, and that you can just walk beside him or even observe him from afar. And it's enough for happiness. So this is a deep sensual movie, filled with the breath of life itself. Impeccable acting of an international team of actors. Great close-ups. Thanks to the great Tom Prior for this brilliant release.

This movie is problematic on many levels.

• The acting is poor, and the fact they speak a language other than their own increases makes everything even more unrealistic.

• The whole movie is based on the most obvious clichés: the writing, the plot, the photography: I struggled to find even a single element in all these fields that I hadn't seen before.

• Make-up is unconvincing and borderline ridiculous: too many muscles and jawlines, the actors look like models coming out of a gay magazine of the 70s. The wig Tom Prior wears in the second half of the movie almost made me stop watching.

• Visual effects look cheap and their metaphorical use is clumsy at best - I'm thinking here of the two planes cutting through the sky symbolizing Sergey's orgasm.

In conclusion, if what you're looking for is a soap and gay (or gayer) version of Pearl Harbor, you won't be disappointed in this wannabe Estonian blockbuster. Whereas, if you think that you've lost already far too many hours of your teenage years on tacky boy-meets-closeted-man stories, than I'd suggest you to stay away from this.

Thank you Peeter and Tom for this beautiful film, for putting your hearts into this project and for telling us Sergey's story. This is an excellent and very interesting production, the directing and the acting is simply outstanding, and the fact that it is based on a true story makes the experience of watching the film very powerful. The chemistry between the three lead actors is unbelievable, and their performances as well as those of the minor roles are memorable. It is also very interesting from an historical perspective, and paints a very realistic, authentic and balanced picture of life in the Soviet era. The characters are truly 3-dimensional and very believable from psychological viewpoint, and the character development wonderful. The film has a lot of suspense too, and it is very well edited, not at all too long. I really, really loved it....everything about it....10 out of 10.

So this is very cliché, but I don't think that makes it any less. Although It Just didn't serve enough. The Storyline was boring and script was meh. I gasped at the new year dinner scene, when Sergey said "Him". That was so good. And I enjoyed drama school scenes too. I enjoyed the Soviet esthetics, I always dig soviet vibes. LGBT community struggle which was present that time, is portraited nicely. Which is taboo too in most of pre-soviet so, this movie I believe must mean too Estonians.

P. S I loved the scenes when they visit Sochi for summer, which is and should be Georgia by the way. So Beautiful. Actors are gorgeous as well.

It seems we're still at the point where any old gay-themed movie can get an endless string of 10/10 reviews, even if it's very ordinary or downright bad. Firebird is somewhere between ordinary and bad, depending on how critical you want to be. While it's apparently based on a true story, it plays awfully like a very standard, very cliched boy-meets-closet-case tale. Anyone who has seen more than a handful of gay movies has seen it all before. The leads are visually appealing, but not good enough actors to rise above the soap. And for the second half of the film Tom Prior (as Sergey) is saddled with one of the most obvious wigs you'll ever see in a film. It pulls focus so much it should probably have had its own separate character name. Sadly, it's not the only unintentionally hilarious thing in Firebird. There's some visual imagery involving jet fighters that will leave any seasoned film buff rolling their eyes. And Sergey becoming wide-eyed with awe and emotion at his first visit to the ballet is pretty funny, given that what's on display is comically garish and amateurish. Check it out if you must, but don't expect 10/10.

This is one of the best history-related gay movies out there, right up there with Maurice.

It mixes the historical events with the gay romance plot very well, and the good mixture ends up in a very good film.

The pacing is a bit slow but the acting and dialogue makes up for it.