Unfortunately, "Bitter Harvest" can't even claim the virtues of a superior dramatic feature. Born in Germany of Ukrainian descent, Mendeluk has spent most his career as a director of Canadian TV movies, which this film unsurprisingly resembles. Set between the two World Wars and based on true historical events, Bitter Harvest conveys the untold story of the Holodomor, the genocidal famine engineered by the tyrant Joseph Stalin.
An emotional powerhouse of a film, it is an emotionally resonant, riveting telling of history. The film depicts the Holodomor, a genocide committed by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin using food as a weapon. Rather, Bitter Harvest's filmmakers (both director and writers) who rely too much on voice overs that deflate the storytelling and leave it devoid of momentum. "Captivating Revelation of the Killing Fields of Communist Socialism".
Max Irons and Samantha Barks in "Bitter Harvest."Credit. Max Irons plays a gifted young painter separated from his childhood sweetheart (Samantha Barks) after leaving the family farm to work in a factory in the capital Kiev. They play their parts earnestly as the movie lumbers on, but this forgotten chapter of history deserves to be better told. Bitter Harvest is also filled with laughable visual touches, such as when Stalin's rant about suppressing Ukraine is followed by a shot of two horses fighting. Bitter Harvest has many faults but it succeeds in introducing the Holodomor, a little known historical event to Western audiences. Prior to watching this movie, I had never heard of the Holodomor, and I am a student of history.
Trailer Bitter Harvest
Unfortunately, I had a difficult time connecting with the. Beautifully filmed, Bitter Harvest is a movie that I found to be quite underrated. I felt that it had a good story with solid acting and direction.
Bitter Harvest is directed by George Mendeluk, a Canadian filmmaker of Ukrainian descent. Mendeluk co-wrote the film with Ukrainian-Canadian screenwriter. At least Bitter Harvest's release date is relatively timely, given the recent focus in the news on Russia's brutally aggressive, expansive ambitions. Check out the exclusive TVGuide.com movie review and see our movie rating for Bitter Harvest.