Cinema: Rock Paper Grenade
A 2022 movie by Iryna Tsilyk
SPLENDOOR TO UKRAINE XI
Rock Paper Grenade (2022)
Directed by Iryna Tsilyk
Duration 92 minutes
English subtitles
Set in the turbulent 1990s in post-Soviet Ukraine, Rock Paper Grenade is a poignant coming-of-age story that explores the fragile relationship between a boy and the adults around him. Young Tymophii lives with his grandmother, whose new partner Felix—a war veteran with PTSD and a deep love for classical music—enters his life.
Despite his erratic behavior and traumatic past, Felix becomes a complex father figure to Tymophii, and their unusual bond reveals the deep scars left by war and societal upheaval.
Based on the autobiographical novel Who You Are by Ukrainian writer Artem Chekh, the film blends humor, vulnerability, and sharp observation to paint a tender portrait of a generation growing up in uncertain times.