Kamennyy khrest

Considered to be one of the masterpieces of Ukrainian cinema, Kamennyy khrest (The Stone Cross) depicts a bleak portrayal of the peasant Ivan Didukh’s desperate attempt to migrate to Canada in search of a better life that will raise his family out of abject poverty. The night before the family are due to leave, a thief enters their home. Ivan’s family and friends, following the custom of the time, then debate on what the fate of the thief shall be. The next day, a farewell party is held by Ivan prior to his family’s departure, but a sense of sorrow lingers in the air. The film takes its source from two stories of the Ukrainian writer Vasyl Stefanyk (1871-1936).