Aurora dreams about becoming a talented ballet dancer one day. However, life is not so simple. 12-year-old orphan Aurora Nedelina lives in an orphanage in Pripyat and accidentally becomes a witness to the explosion at the Chernobyl APP. Having received a critical dose of radiation, she is sent to an American hospital where she meets the rich American Russian, Nick Astakhov--the world-famous dancer who had emigrated from the USSR 15 years prior. Nick is talented, successful, young, yet disappointed in life. Meeting up with Aurora helps Nick turn it all around. However, with each day, Aurora fades away a little more. Only something short of a miracle can save her
Acting
Zurkalova's fragile grace anchors the melodrama.
Production
Pripyat locations hauntingly authentic for 2006.
Costume
Ballet sequences visually arresting against gray Soviet decay.
Director
Oksana Bayrak
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released during Ukraine's post-Orange Revolution cultural renaissance, the film uniquely frames Chernobyl through intimate tragedy rather than political horror—a rarity in Eastern European cinema of the era.
Eric Roberts reportedly took the Mr. Brown role specifically to work in Ukraine, spending only three days on set; his scenes were largely dubbed in post-production.
UA
