Watch Bad Roads

Bad Roads is a Ukrainian drama film that was released in 2020. Directed by Nataliya Vorozhbyt, the film explores the lives of different individuals whose paths cross during a war-ridden journey across the Ukrainian countryside. The film opens with a scene of a young woman named Katya (Viktoria Miroshnichenko) standing on a desolate road. She is soon picked up by a military truck that is heading towards the frontline. During her journey, she meets a group of women who are also headed towards the frontline. Among them are a medic named Oksana (Oleksandra Kononova), a newcomer named Yulia (Anna Kotova), and a journalist named Maria (Roman Lutskyi). As their journey unfolds, the women bond over their shared experiences and struggles.

As they travel through the war-torn countryside, the group is stopped at a checkpoint by a group of soldiers. Among them is an officer named Vlad (Andrey Lelyukh). Vlad is a disillusioned soldier who has lost faith in his superiors and the system that he fights for. Despite his cynicism, he finds himself drawn to Katya, who reveals that she is on a mission to find her lover who is fighting in the war.

Meanwhile, a group of soldiers led by a battalion commander named Mykola (Igor Koltovskyy) is on a mission to capture a group of rebels who are hiding in the area. As they move closer to their target, they encounter a group of civilians who are trying to flee the warzone. Among them is a father and his young son (Volodymyr Hurin). The soldiers are forced to make difficult decisions as they try to balance their mission with their conscience.

As the different characters navigate through their own challenges, their paths intersect and their lives are forever changed. The film explores themes of love, loss, sacrifice and the impact of war on individuals and society.

One of the strengths of the film is its stunning cinematography which captures the beauty of the Ukrainian countryside, despite its underlying destruction. The film also features naturalistic performances by the cast, particularly by Viktoria Miroshnichenko who delivers a captivating portrayal of a young woman who is willing to risk everything for love.

Overall, Bad Roads is a powerful film that is deeply, and at times painfully, human. It portrays the devastating impact of war on individuals and communities with a level of empathy and authenticity that is rare in cinema. Though it is a difficult and at times harrowing watch, it is also a rewarding and important one that demands to be seen.