Ope, Kurwa! (1998)
| Ope, Kurwa! | |
|---|---|
 Midwestern theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nicholas Johnson |
| Written by | Nicholas Johnson |
Release dates | December 4th, 1998 |
| Country | Midwest Union |
| Languages | English, Polish |
Ope, Kurwa! (1998) (or ókurwap in Poland) is an action film written and directed by Nicholas Johnson set in a near-future 2015, about a Polish descendant Midwestern soldier and a Polish soldier being 2 of 5 survivors in a helicopter crash with a subplot of them discovering shared heritage. The movie is renowned internationally for its creative use of language. Johnson claims he came up with the idea for the film in 1993 while playing with his dog. Production began in the fall of 1994, posters released in the spring of 1998, and it released on December 4th, 1998.
The film uses code-mixing in character dialogue, multiple languages being used in conversation, such as instead of goodnight being used, the protagonists would say "Dobranoc." meaning the same thing.
Production
The idea for the film came about in the summer of 1993, when Johnson claims he was playing with his dog in his garden and came up with the idea. He began writing in the fall of that year, pitching it in early 1994, and receiving base funding. Production began September of that year.
Johnson struggled to find actors fluent in 3 languages, and eventually found 3 fluent in English and Russian, and another in English and Polish, forcing him to change the storyline to change the 5th to an older Midwestern soldier who didn't know any foreign languages. Editors reportedly argued with him about the use of captions baked into the video, ultimately not succeeding to change his vision.
People's Elect Charlie Berens donated $10,000 of his own money, and encouraged the people to fund the film, stating "It's an amazing concept, and I believe it will resonate with the stories of many Americans."
The movie was teased in spring of 1998, claiming to be "The most Midwestern movie ever made." and promising "a watch that would make you shout 'Kurwa!' in amazement." It released on December 4th, 1998, in theaters and on CD on December 12th. Over the next 3 months it was released internationally.
Dakotan Nationalist Attacks on Set
During the shooting of scenes within the Badlands, and in western segments of Dakota, multiple stage-hands received wounds from poorly set traps or were shot at. 6 Dakotan Nationalists were arrested, and 3 were convicted of and executed for terrorism. crimes against security of the state, battery, and attempted murder, the other 3 are still awaiting trial over 7 years later.
Plot
Setting
The film is set in 2015, where a unstated western country, speaking an English-sounding language, has invaded the Midwest Union on June 4th a year prior, and the rest of the Warsaw Pact comes to its aid. The world is much more advanced, and a dramatized and futurized version of the KAR-4.
Story
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The film begins with a short summary of the events of the last year. Cutting to a group of helicopters flying in formation Kevin "Catcher" Richter, the protagonist, in one of them, when a SAM hits a nearby helicopter, causing a domino effect of helicopters crashing into eachother, Kevin is awaken by Jakub "Blue Wolf" Wójcik, part of the Polish regiment joining the formation, and 2 other Midwestern soldiers, "Hunter" and "Unsharpened Razor". The stragglers begin to head west towards a town spotted while in the air. As they walk a man is spotted, after a brief confrontation they find it to be another, older, Midwestern soldier, only called "The Old Man".
The first act begins as the group attempts to blender into the townsfolk, populated with Westerners, they must avoid being spotted by shoppers while throwing food out the back door.
Book Adaptation
Johnson went on to write a novel based on the movie, named Witaj, Traitor, taking place 3 years after the events of the movie in an Iowan city while the country is in a state of unstable peace.
Reception
Many drew comparisons of the unnamed western country to the Western States of America, and the film being an allegory for the WSA's constant threat of expansion to sovereign states.
International audiences appreciated the use of multiple languages, while English dialogue was translated, Polish, Russian, and Western-Gibberish were all kept for international release. During release in Slavic countries, the Polish and Russian slang was replaced with English slang, flip flopping the code-mixing, the exclusively English speaking Old Man remained English speaking. Poland and the Soviet Union officially commented on it as a "heart warming story, showing the goodness in knowing where you come from, and connecting with those who share that."
Conservative Wisconsin Politician, Jason March, stated the film was too "optimistic and raunchy" about Midwest-Slav relations and "Tried to make the Midwest something it wasn't." He also made later statement claiming "Ope, Kurwa! is not a Christmas movie."
People's Elect Charlie Berens spoke that he was "pleased to where his money went," and that "so many others were pleased."