‘Under the Volcano’ Review: A Ukrainian Family’s Vacation Turns Into Wartime Exile in Simmering Drama

As a refugee myself, I found “Under the Volcano” to be a deeply moving and poignant film that resonated with my own experiences. The story of the Ukrainian family stranded in Spain amidst the Russian invasion mirrors the feelings of uncertainty, fear, and longing for home that many refugees feel.

Fedir (Fedir Pugachov) poses a simple question to his family as they explore Mount Teide in Spain: “Why is there snow here if it’s a volcano?” However, for his father Roman (Roman Lutskyi) and stepmother Nastya (Anastasiia Karpienko), this question becomes increasingly challenging to answer as the Ukrainian family’s vacation in the Canary Islands extends into a prolonged stay due to the Russian invasion of their homeland. Explaining to their six-year-old that what is falling on them is not snow but burned ash would shatter an illusion they wish he could hold onto – one of many in Damian Kocur’s thoughtfully constructed drama “Under the Volcano.” In simpler terms, the family wants to protect their young son from the harsh reality of war.

Initially, Roman and Nastya worry if they can find parking space for their car on the beach on the final day of their holiday, unaware that they’d end up being parked there indefinitely. However, signs suggest that this wasn’t a worry-free week in paradise; Roman’s children are still struggling to accept his new spouse, and the underlying tension makes the news of war harder to digest. Instead of bonding together, family members start drifting apart, with only Nastya feeling compelled to keep things stable. Sofiia reaches out to a friend in Kyiv, while Roman attempts to withdraw funds from his bank accounts. Although their hotel provides free accommodation and food during their stay in Recife upon hearing about the invasion, they have numerous other worries as snippets of news trickle in.

Initially, it seems “Under the Volcano” might take on a dry, Ruben Ostlund-esque satirical tone as a conga line grooves to “Guantanamera” while the family anxiously monitors their phones for updates, yet the irony here is more about depicting a world that continues its merry-go-round even amidst a humanitarian crisis. This notion becomes even more apparent when Sofiia forms a bond with Mike, an immigrant from Africa who survives by selling trinkets to tourists and is haunted by the memory of his companions who didn’t make it during their journey to Spain. One of the few lighthearted moments arises when Mike mistakenly believes Brad Pitt starred in “Titanic,” whereas Sofiia knows it was Leonardo DiCaprio, but even this moment ends on a profound note as all he can admit is that they both watched the same movie, yet perceived different stories within it.

In the film “Under the Volcano,” the viewers’ experience differs significantly from the characters’, as they are aware that the war continues unresolved. This gap serves as both a strength and a weakness. While Kocur effectively sets the stage without needing excessive context in the early family scenes, the pervasive uncertainty becomes somewhat repetitive when the narrative focuses on Sofiia, who is both deeply involved yet disengaged due to her constant online presence. Her habit of filming videos, particularly those featuring bikini-clad women her age, can be unsettling and doesn’t always advance the character or plot development. However, the movie delivers when it comes to the climax, as Sofiia is not alone in her discontentment, and everyone begins questioning their roles within the family during this stalemate. This theme resonates with current humanitarian crises, where we all share a sense of urgency and desire for action, both on-screen and off.

2024-09-11 23:46

‘Under the Volcano’ Review: A Ukrainian Family’s Vacation Turns Into Wartime Exile in Simmering Drama

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