The science fiction drama "You Are the Cosmos" directed by Pavel Ostrikov is captivating audiences and solidifying its place in Ukrainian cinema.

According to the State Agency of Ukraine for Cinema, the film has grossed 48.1 million UAH over four weekends and attracted 262,807 viewers.

The film was produced with the support of the state agency and ForeFilms in collaboration with Belgium. The story centers on Andriy, a Ukrainian space trucker who becomes the last person in the universe after a catastrophe on Earth, but unexpectedly connects with Catherine, a French woman in need of help.

"The film shows a steady interest among viewers and highlights the presence of Ukrainian cinema in the science fiction genre," the agency's statement noted.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2024, as part of the Discovery program. Director Pavel Ostrikov spent nearly 10 years on the project, creating unique sets and animatronics for the shoot. The greatest effort was directed at depicting space in its beauty, and the film has already received several awards.

"When a planet explodes and the hero is left alone, we also feel like we're at the end of the world. This is a sentiment shared by Ukrainians," Ostrikov shared in an interview.

According to the director, the first draft of the script was written in 2015, initially reflecting a childlike perspective on space. "My goal was to fit my storyline into the knowledge I gained. It's a compromise in filmmaking," he added.

Ostrikov also revealed that he was inspired by films like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Interstellar".

"Robot Maxim is an animatronic created with engineers. We minimized the use of graphics to achieve realism," the director explained.

He also recommended that Ukrainians watch films such as "There Will Be Blood", "Mary and Max", "The Weapon", "Brutalist", and "Forrest Gump".