Firebird

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1:51

Firebird

R

2022

1h 47m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

History

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Firebird is a touching love story set in the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Sergey, a troubled young private, is counting the days till his military service ends. His life is turned upside down when a daring fighter pilot, Roman arrives at the base. Driven by curiosity, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship as a dangerous love triangle forms between them and Luisa, the secretary to the base Commander. Sergey is forced to face his past as Roman's career is endangered and Luisa struggles to keep her family together. As the walls close in, they risk their freedom and their lives in the face of an escalating KGB investigation and the fear of the all-seeing Soviet regime. Based on a true story.

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Critics Consensus

Firebird's intentions are admirable, but they're largely thwarted by a frustratingly muted approach to its central love story.

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Cary Darling

Houston Chronicle

04/29/2022

3/5

Even though this beautifully shot and generally well-acted British-Estonian co-production is based on a memoir, it feels too PBS polite, as if the edges have been rubbed away from the real story to appeal to as wide an audience as possible

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Jude Dry

IndieWire

04/29/2022

B-

Prior and Zagorodnii are both so watchable, and their chemistry so electric, that it’s easy to get swept away in their romance. Historical accuracy be damned.

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Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

04/29/2022

3/4

A swooningly romantic love story.

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Sarah Vincent

Cambridge Day

06/09/2024

2/4

The first half of the film is torn between being a forbidden romance and a Cold War action-cum-romance like “Top Gun,” with dashes of bootcamp torture. The film finds its footing in the second half when Fetisov pursues acting in cosmopolitan Moscow

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Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

06/08/2022

5/10

One can glean an earnestness from telling this true tale of a romantic entanglement that forced its participants apart, but leaning on historical context does not negate the formulaic execution.

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Michael Ward

Should I See It

06/05/2022

2.5/5

...this all becomes very heavy-handed and very on-the-nose.

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George D

05/23/2022

Tender and romantic story of 2 Estonian soldiers

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Zoran T

05/19/2022

Good story, cheesy and superficial dialogs and dramaturgy, not such good directing, not the greatest acting (but not entirely terrible all the time), nice cinematography... and iiiinsanely handsome two leading actors!

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Peggy

05/14/2022

Very captivating true life story of love, bravery, and loss

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Rod S

05/09/2022

This story shows the strength of love, even in the adversity of a repressive military environment.

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Thomas

05/09/2022

Great acting Wonderful storyline The filming is excellent!

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David

05/08/2022

This movie was a struggle of love between two military men during difficult times! It was extremely well acted and the story-line was enlightening!

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Peeter Rebane

Director

Tom Prior

Sergey

Nicholas Woodeson

Colonel Kuznetsov

Oleg Zagorodnii

Roman

Diana Pozharskaya

Luisa

Margus Prangel

Major Zverev

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Synopsis

Firebird is a touching love story set in the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Sergey, a troubled young private, is counting the days till his military service ends. His life is turned upside down when a daring fighter pilot, Roman arrives at the base. Driven by curiosity, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship as a dangerous love triangle forms between them and Luisa, the secretary to the base Commander. Sergey is forced to face his past as Roman's career is endangered and Luisa struggles to keep her family together. As the walls close in, they risk their freedom and their lives in the face of an escalating KGB investigation and the fear of the all-seeing Soviet regime. Based on a true story.

Director: Peeter Rebane
Producer: Tom Prior, Peeter Rebane, Brigita Rozenbrika
Screenwriter: Peeter Rebane, Tom Prior
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Firebird Production, No Reservations Entertainment, Film Estonia, The Factory
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $143.7K
Runtime: 1h 47m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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