Firebird

Play trailer

1:51

Firebird

R

2022

1h 47m

Drama

Romance

LGBTQ+

History

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

57%

Tomatometer

49 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Firebird is a touching love story set in the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Sergey, a troubled young private, is counting the days till his military service ends. His life is turned upside down when a daring fighter pilot, Roman arrives at the base. Driven by curiosity, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship as a dangerous love triangle forms between them and Luisa, the secretary to the base Commander. Sergey is forced to face his past as Roman's career is endangered and Luisa struggles to keep her family together. As the walls close in, they risk their freedom and their lives in the face of an escalating KGB investigation and the fear of the all-seeing Soviet regime. Based on a true story.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Firebird's intentions are admirable, but they're largely thwarted by a frustratingly muted approach to its central love story.

Read Critics Reviews

Cary Darling

Houston Chronicle

Apr 29, 2022

3/5

Even though this beautifully shot and generally well-acted British-Estonian co-production is based on a memoir, it feels too PBS polite, as if the edges have been rubbed away from the real story to appeal to as wide an audience as possible

Go to Full Review

Jude Dry

IndieWire

Apr 29, 2022

B-

Prior and Zagorodnii are both so watchable, and their chemistry so electric, that it’s easy to get swept away in their romance. Historical accuracy be damned.

Go to Full Review

Nell Minow

RogerEbert.com

Apr 29, 2022

3/4

A swooningly romantic love story.

Go to Full Review

Sarah Vincent

Cambridge Day

Jun 9, 2024

2/4

The first half of the film is torn between being a forbidden romance and a Cold War action-cum-romance like “Top Gun,” with dashes of bootcamp torture. The film finds its footing in the second half when Fetisov pursues acting in cosmopolitan Moscow

Go to Full Review

Josh Parham

Next Best Picture

Jun 8, 2022

5/10

One can glean an earnestness from telling this true tale of a romantic entanglement that forced its participants apart, but leaning on historical context does not negate the formulaic execution.

Go to Full Review

Michael Ward

Should I See It

Jun 5, 2022

2.5/5

...this all becomes very heavy-handed and very on-the-nose.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

George D

May 23, 2022

Tender and romantic story of 2 Estonian soldiers

See more

Zoran T

May 19, 2022

Good story, cheesy and superficial dialogs and dramaturgy, not such good directing, not the greatest acting (but not entirely terrible all the time), nice cinematography... and iiiinsanely handsome two leading actors!

See more

Peggy

May 14, 2022

Very captivating true life story of love, bravery, and loss

See more

Rod S

May 9, 2022

This story shows the strength of love, even in the adversity of a repressive military environment.

See more

Thomas

May 9, 2022

Great acting Wonderful storyline The filming is excellent!

See more

David

May 8, 2022

This movie was a struggle of love between two military men during difficult times! It was extremely well acted and the story-line was enlightening!

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Peeter Rebane

Director

Tom Prior

Sergey

Nicholas Woodeson

Colonel Kuznetsov

Oleg Zagorodnii

Roman

Diana Pozharskaya

Luisa

Margus Prangel

Major Zverev

Firebird: Movie Clip - Listen to Me

0:39

Now Playing

Firebird: Movie Clip - Do You Have a Girl Back Home?

1:50

Now Playing

View more videos

My Policeman

45%

96%

My Policeman

Watchlist

TRAILER

for My Policeman

Of an Age

88%

87%

Of an Age

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Of an Age

Call Me by Your Name

95%

86%

Call Me by Your Name

Watchlist

Ammonite

70%

85%

Ammonite

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Ammonite

Disobedience

84%

75%

Disobedience

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Disobedience

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Firebird: Trailer 1

1:51

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Firebird is a touching love story set in the Soviet Air Force during the Cold War. Sergey, a troubled young private, is counting the days till his military service ends. His life is turned upside down when a daring fighter pilot, Roman arrives at the base. Driven by curiosity, Sergey and Roman navigate the precarious line between love and friendship as a dangerous love triangle forms between them and Luisa, the secretary to the base Commander. Sergey is forced to face his past as Roman's career is endangered and Luisa struggles to keep her family together. As the walls close in, they risk their freedom and their lives in the face of an escalating KGB investigation and the fear of the all-seeing Soviet regime. Based on a true story.

Director: Peeter Rebane
Producer: Tom Prior, Peeter Rebane, Brigita Rozenbrika
Screenwriter: Peeter Rebane, Tom Prior
Distributor: Roadside Attractions
Production Co: Firebird Production, No Reservations Entertainment, Film Estonia, The Factory
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: Drama, Romance, LGBTQ+, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 29, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $143.7K
Runtime: 1h 47m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings