Zephyr (Syaran film)
| Zephyr Зефир | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Stela Herceg |
| Screenplay by | Bedros Manvelian |
| Story by | Enyo Andreev Antonov |
| Produced by | Naum Arzhentinski |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Stanislava Mihaelova Hadjieva |
| Edited by | Velimir Ribarić |
| Music by | Stephen Spiroff |
Production company | Indebted Pictures |
| Distributed by | Commonality Theaters |
Release date | 7 July 2021 |
Running time | 120 minutes |
| Country | Syara |
| Language | Syaran |
| Budget | $60 million |
| Box office | $315 million |
Zephyr (Syaran: Зефир, Zefir) is 2021 Syaran war drama film directed by Stela Herceg. The film stars Gabrijel Domazet, Vagharshag Kevranian, Miloš Radovski, and Dzvonimir Gulevski in fictionalized retelling of the experience of a Commonality Air Force pilots during the Zemplen War. It was released on 7 July 2021 to mostly positive reviews and earned $315 million on a $60 million budget.
Cast
- Gabrijel Domazet as Pavel Danielov Nakov
- Vagharshag Kevranian as Kitanov
- Miloš Radovski as Bozian
- Dzvonimir Gulevski as Luka
Plot
In 1992, a ten year old Pavel Danielov Nakov watches his father crop dust their fields in rural Galania. At night, Pavel asks his father about his experience as a pilot during the Refusal War and expresses a desire to fly fighter jets when he is older. His father does not indicate much support in his dreams, but Pavel presses on with his fascination with flying. Twelve years later, Pavel graduates from the Commonality Air Force's flight academy and is assigned to fly the Zephyr, Syara's main line air superiority fighter. He develops a friendly professional rapport with Kitanov, his flight commander, whom like Pavel has been obsessed with flying since he was a child. During early training missions Pavel makes mistakes while flying, such as failing to report his altitude properly or forgetting to call in targets, but Kitanov coaches him through his mistakes and he gradually shoots up the ladder of his squadron to become one of the top pilots in the unit.
Pavel takes leave to visit his family and tries to engage his father by discussing his flight experience, but he remains largely ambivalent. Frustrated, Pavel pours himself into his work, determined to become the best pilot of the Syaran air force. Pavel pushes himself to the limit of his physical endurance, nearly crashing his plane during one training flight that sees him reprimanded for reckless flying. Pavel is worried it might mean the end to his flying career, but the outbreak of the Zemplen War sees the issue dropped as Pavel's squadron takes up combat air patrols in support of the ground war. In September 2008 Pavel engages a Ruvelkan Drago, but despite firing three missiles is unable to score a hit, and the Ruvelkan bugs out unharmed.
Pavel continues to fly throughout the early months of the war, usually alongside his comrades Kitanov, Bozian, and Luka. In October Pavel scores his first kill when he shoots down a Drago over central Ruvelka. Pavel is elated and lands back at base ecstatic, only to watch in stunned silence as Kitanov is unable to land safely and is killed. Pavel is promoted to flight leader and begins flying more sorties as the war intensifies. While flying during the Ruvelkan Winter Counter-Offensive, Pavel's flight encounters a heavily damaged Folivori limping back to Ruvelkan lines; Pavel orders Luka to shoot it down, but Luka refuses to fire on an already wounded aircraft. After they return Pavel berates Luka for disobeying orders.
A few months later Pavel and Bozian flying when they encounter a flight of three Dragos. Pavel chooses to engage and manages to shoot down one of the Dragos for his second kill of the war. After an intense dogfight Pavel manages to down another, marking his third kill. Bozian however is shot down by the third Drago, but manages to eject and parachute to safety while the last Drago bugs out. After a week Bozian returns to the flight; Pavel expects Bozian to be furious because Pavel left him on his own, but Bozian is more impressed by Pavel taking on two enemy aircraft at once. Pavel's accomplishments make him a minor celebrity within the unit, and there is open speculation as to whether he will become an ace. A few weeks later, Pavel downs a Donnola, putting him just one away from becoming an ace.
Pavel adopts increasingly aggressive tactics in his efforts to score his fifth kill, frequently engaging in risky behavior that earns the ire of Luka, who warns him about glory seeking. Pavel struggles to balance his duties as a flight commander with his own desire for glory, in part because he believes becoming an ace will cause his father to open up to him. In Autumn 2009 Pavel and Luka are on a flight when they encounter a lone Drago, which Pavel identifies as Phoenix, a Ruvelkan ace pilot. Pavel and Luka engage, but struggle to keep pace with the enhanced maneuvers of Phoenix. Luka is shot down and fails to eject, while a cobra maneuver by Phoenix allows her to get behind Pavel and she grazes his aircraft with cannon fire. Pavel struggles to control his plane and ultimately is unable to stop Phoenix from getting on his six again. Pavel expects to be shot down, but instead Phoenix pulls alongside his stricken aircraft, salutes him, then departs. Pavel manages to guide his wounded aircraft back to Syaran lines and crash lands, side-lining him from flying for weeks.
Pavel spends most of his recuperation despondent over Luka's death, ashamed that he let his ego control him and ultimately cost his wingman his life. The slow down in operations during the winter of 2009-2010 provide nothing but monotonous patrols with no action, leaving Pavel to come to dread flying. The onset of Operation Homefront suddenly changes things, as Pavel and his squadron are forced to take up extensive combat operations in order to cover the retreat of Syaran forces. Pavel does not score any shoot downs during this time, but manages to successfully break up several Ruvelkan attacks without the loss of anyone in his flight. Near the end of the war, Pavel is on a lone patrol when he encounters a single Martora. The ground attack Martora has no chance against Pavel's Zephyr, and its shootdown would officially make Pavel an ace. Just as he lines up his targeting reticle and is preparing to fire, Pavel abruptly breaks off and returns home, ending the war with four kills, just one shy of an ace.
Pavel takes leave after the Treaty of Aragon is signed and finds his father fueling up his crop duster just before dawn. The two exchange a few words before his father asks if Pavel wants to join him; Pavel agrees and the two take off. After a few minutes of flying in the early sunlight, Pavel's father asks him how he likes flying. Pavel considers his reply for a moment before saying it is much better when nobody is shooting and dying. Pavel's father agrees emphatically, and the two fly off into the sunrise.
Reception
Zephyr earned mostly positive reviews, with the Syaran Film Standard rating it 4.3 out of 5. Syaran film critic Grozdana Radkova Kostova in her review of the movie states "Zephyr drags on certain points and doesn't necessarily make the best use of its time, but manages to still deliver am emotional if unsubtle story". Zephyr earned $315 million at the box office, becoming one of the highest grossing Syaran films of 2021.