Taras Tomenko’s Epic Film “The Tale of Igor’s Campaign” Revives Ukrainian History

Director Taras Tomenko, known for the films “House of the Word. The Endless Novel” and “A Sentimental Journey to the Parajanov Planet,” is working on a film titled “The Word about Igor’s Campaign.” This will be the first screen adaptation of the eponymous 12th-century poem. The information has been updated based on the official press release from the production studios.

According to the synopsis, the events unfold in 1185: Prince Igor leads a campaign into the lands of the Cumans and Polovtsians, faces a prophecy about his own death, and his wife is surrounded by the peril of warlike hordes. Igor himself falls into captivity and, through internal trials, chooses loyalty to his homeland and to his loved ones, after which he will be able to withstand the pressures of the East’s most influential warrior. Such plotlines will form the basis for a modern adaptation, revealing the myth of the heroism of the ancient Ukrainian people.

At the moment, project development is ongoing. The producers are Svitlana Yatsynych, known for the films “Y.Nina” and “How’s Katya?”, and Maksym Asadchiy, who worked on the films “The Guide” and “Dovbush.” The screenplay is being written by the film’s director Taras Tomenko and Kostyantyn Konovalov (“The One Who Passed Through Fire”, “Fortress Hadjibey”).

Creative Team and Vision

Tomenko emphasizes that it was with “The Word about Igor’s Campaign” that Russia began a systematic falsification of Ukrainian history, so “today we must reclaim our history, our heroes, our epic, our Word”.

The film project is being realized with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. Production is handled by Salameya Film and Pronto Film.

A teaser for the project is expected soon. The release date in theaters has not yet been announced, but audiences are promised a revival of historical memory and a new look at the ancient epic word.