6 may 2025 # Community

USPS Film Club: You Are the Universe

The Ukrainian School of Political Studies held an exclusive pre-premiere screening of the Ukrainian feature film You Are the Universe. This week, the School’s Community had the chance to discover the debut full-length feature by Ukrainian director and screenwriter Pavlo Ostrikov, produced by Volodymyr Yatsenko — a current USPS programme participant — and Anna Yatsenko.

A film is that piece of culture which always sparks conversation — and You Are the Universe was no exception. The tragicomic story of an ordinary guy from Khmelnychchyna, told in a vibrant and sincere voice, prompted reflection on a key question: how can Ukrainian creatives tell the world about themselves and their country? How do we overcome the barriers of language and cultural nuance — do we try to explain the jokes, or simply transmit the authenticity of the music? And ultimately — how do we build a shared code that allows even a part of Ukrainian culture to be “read”?

Our goal was not to get lost among the countless space films out there. Given our limited resources, we started looking for a key to set us apart. What would a space film look like if the spacecraft were built at Pivdenmash? What would our long-haul trucker on Jupiter be like? We’re not trying to compete with Interstellar — we’re making good Ukrainian cinema about people and space.

“You Are the Universe” — undoubtedly rich in artistic meaning — is also a remembrance film. With the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, part of the film crew joined Ukraine’s defence. Among them were producer Volodymyr Yatsenko, lead actor Volodymyr Kravchuk, and Leonid Popadko, the voice behind the main character’s robotic assistant. Some, tragically, did not survive. For the team, finishing this film became a matter of honour — a tribute to those for whom it became a final chapter. It deserves to be seen.

This was a project that happened against all odds. None of us really knew what we were signing up for. After 24 February, no one expected there would still be a cinema. But sometime in the summer of 2022, we said: if we already have this footage, maybe we can shoot the rest in a few days, if the chance arises. Once the process of making a film starts — it’s like a steam engine on a track. It’s hard to stop.

Many thanks to Pavlo, Volodymyr, and Anna for the heartfelt conversation. We hope You Are the Universe will find a special place in your hearts, dear Community!

We warmly encourage you to dive into the world created by Pavlo Ostrikov as soon as You Are the Universe hits theatres.

P.S. What’s the film about? Ukrainian space trucker Andrii hauls nuclear waste from Earth to one of Jupiter’s moons. After a sudden explosion destroys Earth, with debris wiping out everything nearby, he miraculously survives — the last known human in the Universe. Until, unexpectedly, a voice breaks the silence. It’s Catherine, a Frenchwoman stranded in orbit around Saturn. Andrii sets off on a journey to save her — no matter the cost.