Dovbush

We express gratitude to our Polish colleagues

for their contribution to making this film,

and to the Polish nation for their continued support for Ukraine.

Leave me be.

You probably came to listen to the legend

of a glorious mountain avenger

who robbed from the rich, gave to the poor

and hid the gold all over mountains, right?

Or maybe about an avenger who could stomp

from one mountain to another lightning flashing from his eyes,

and tuck the sun into his belt, right?

There's none of that here.

I'll tell you the truth, not a tale.

I'll tell you how God gives and how God takes,

how people praise to heaven and then trample underfoot.

I'll tell you about a man who I knew like myself.

His name…

Dovbush.

1733. The king of Poland is dead.

France, Spain, Austria and Russia compete to capture the throne.

A brutal and bloody war starts.

The destiny of Poland is being decided near Gdańsk.

Russia’s army has surrounded Hetman Potocki’s troops.

The Russian cannons must be destroyed in order to break through the siege.

Potocki sends elite hussars and desperate Carpathian conscripts.

HAGELSBERG CANNON FORT

The cavalry will attack when our flag flies above the tower.

Hetman Potocki promises freedom to any who survive.

Let's go, boys. It's the only path to freedom.

Hang onto this.

Guard.

Wait.

Let's go, boys.

Three…

Follow me.

Watch out!

- Take him! - I'm here!

Hurry up!

Men coming!

Message for Hetman Potocki!

Hetman! We're ready to attack!

Any news?

We're fighting but there is no flag on the tower!

We wait!

Wait for the signal!

Sir!

No surrender!

Sir! Get to the top!

Get down!

Sir! Get up!

Time for the signal!

Let's go!

Be quiet!

Everything is going to be okay.

Sound the attack!

Lucky devil!

Oleksa, come back. I'm waiting…

Hold your horses…

My brother's getting married…

Just look at her!

Marichka! Last chance to change your mind!

Oleksa…

Out of the way! Your Princess is coming!

Ivan!

Ivan! Get out of here!

Run, brother!

What's your name?

Dovbush.

Where do you hail from?

The Carpathians. Black Mountain.

Take it.

Here. You earned it.

You promised me my freedom.

I'll talk to the Hetman.

Don't worry. You'll see your mountains again soon.

Drink it!

Hold on, soldier!

To victory!

Glory to Hetman Potocki!

Glory!

Princess Jabłonowska.

To you as well!

I wanted to see his fall from power.

Instead I witness his victory.

You lost a battle. Not the war.

Princess Jabłonowska.

Your Grace.

How could our enemy hope to vanquish a knight like you?

I'm astonished to see you.

War is no place for a fragile highborn lady.

We are here to serve our homeland.

To victory!

To victory!

And for our army's return home.

Princess, we are fighting a war.

I need the army here.

My lands are inhabited by Ruthenians.

They're savage and rebellious.

I need soldiers. And a commander.

Gentlemen, Colonel Przełuski!

Gentlemen!

The hero of the day!

Behold, a true knight!

I saw him destroy the enemy cannons!

- Glory! - Glory!

- Glory! - Glory!

I hereby promote him to captain!

My son,

I need a loyal officer to guard the border.

Princess Jabłonowska is a widow…

Our great princess!

- Hurrah! - Hurrah!

- Do something. - Yes, my lord.

To victory!

Hurrah!

Take him.

You son of a bitch.

Damn to hell these who brought war to God's earth.

Lords hide their sons in their cellars

and send the poor to die like cattle to slaughter.

My Oleksa vanished like that in the war.

No. Think he's the only one who'll be buried like that?

I didn't go to that funeral.

Couldn't bear it.

They paid me for Oleksa's death.

My son's bones rot in a foreign land.

I don't want this money.

Take the money.

And erect a cross in Oleksa's memory.

THREE YEARS LATER

Bandits!

It's The Butcher!

You're almost there.

Glory to God!

It's the Butcher! God save us!

- The Butcher? - See this knife?

- We're just merchants… - Shut your mouth.

Now listen.

Listen good.

The nobles have no power here.

This road is mine.

And if you don't pay…

or raise your hand against me…

your name will be carved on this knife.

Who are you? Who?

Your name! Say your name!

What did I tell you? Say your name!

Yatsek.

Yatsek Voitsekhovski…

What did I tell you, bastard? What did I say?

- For God's sake, please… - Silence!

All of you! Remember my name!

My name is Dovbush.

GRAND PRINCESS JABŁONOWSKA'S CASTLE

Is something wrong?

Tenants complain about being robbed.

They say there is no order in my lands.

I'll show you what they write.

I'll take care of it.

How?

Every time our Smolaks go after them,

the Opryshkos vanish into the Black Mountain.

Opryshkos… I'll make them come to us.

- My Colonel Przełuski… - I'm a captain.

Poland honors its heroes.

You're a colonel now.

My lady, how can I thank you?

You know how.

The soldiers dragged Oleksa into the army. I haven't had a moment's peace since.

It was my fate, not his.

I would've found a way out.

I've missed him every day he's been gone.

I see him everywhere.

I asked you, to bring him back, Lord.

But you're deaf to me.

Now, Lord, I ask you nothing.

I'll take care of things myself.

Move your, asses, bastards!

Chain him to the stocks!

You'll all die here!

Oleksa!

Oleksa!

The cliff had blood stains. Did you see it?

Ivan, we need to go home.

- Mom will be mad. - You're afraid?

When we become Opryshkos, we will hide here ourselves.

Look, there's a sign on the wall!

Don't move!

Just you two here?

What's your name?

I'm Oleksa. That's my brother Ivan.

Are you going to die?

See this?

It's the ax of Tanas.

He who has it will never be touched by Death.

I want to be an Opryshko!

I'm not scared of anything!

Oh, put out your hand!

The ax will be yours!

- And to you. - Long life.