Review: "Firebird" forbidden love set in 1970s USSR armed forces

If two weeks is too long for you to wait for "Top Gun: Maverick" to fly into theaters, "Firebird" should satisfy your need for speed.

The movie, set in Soviet occupied Estonia in the late 1970s, is a labor of love from first time director Peeter Rebane and co-screenwriter, producer, and star, Tom Prior.

Based on a memoir by late Russian actor Sergey Fetisov, “Firebird” tells the story of a love triangle between Sergey (Prior), a young soldier doing his required national service before heading off to college; Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya), the beautiful and ambitious secretary to the base commander; and Roman, an ace fighter pilot.

The film is set in 1970s Soviet Union against the backdrop of the Cold War. Sergey (Prior), a young private, is weeks away from completing his Air Force conscription. He spends his days working together with Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya), an ambitious secretary to the base commander Colonel Kuznetsov (Nicholas Woodeson).

Luisa is secretly in love with Sergey. But when an ace fighter pilot, Roman (Ukrainian actor Oleg Zagorodnii) arrives at the base, both Sergey and Luisa find themselves drooling over him. Who will Roman choose?

Roman decides he wants a bite from both apples. He marries Luisa but carries on a torrid affair with Sergey.

Remember, this is set in 1970s Russia and homosexuality in the armed forces was hardly supported. This brings the drama.

At one point, Sergey and Roman are spending time together in Moscow. Sergey is there for drama school. Roman has himself transferred there for a few months so that he can be close to Sergey. The two decide to live together. Everything goes well until KGB Major Zverev (Margus Prangel), who monitors all personnel for suspicious behavior, makes an announced visit to the apartment that Roman and Sergey share. However, this is an apartment that only Roman is supposed to be living in.

"Firebird" is a movie that deserves to be seen on the big screen, as the cinematography — thanks to cinematographer Mait Mäekivi — is stunning. It evokes the Technicolor films of yesteryear.

"Firebird"

Grade B

Starring: Tom Prior, Oleg Zagorodnii, Diana Pozharskaya

Rating: R for language and some sexual content

Director: Peeter Rebane

Running time: 1 hour, 47 minutes

Tim Nasson, who lives is Boston, can be reached at tim.nasson@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Review: "Firebird" forbidden love set in 1970s USSR armed forces