Close Relations is about relations growing further apart: the divided loyalties that have come painfully to the surface in Ukraine. It is almost the equivalent of unionism in Northern Ireland, and in one testy conversation, the situation is compared to the Kurds and Turkey, with the Russian rebels in the Kurdish role. Yet pro-Russian sympathies are clouded by a resentment of Vladimir Putin’s nationalism and bully-ism. Conversely, Ukrainian nationalism and a yearning to join the EU are compromised by memories of the wartime Ukrainian nationalist Stepan Bandera, who was associated with Nazi Germany. Many of the scenes in this film are simply of his aunts, uncles and cousins talking, talking, talking – and rowing.

Source: The Guardian January 19, 2017 22:15 UTC