July 17, 2014, stands as one of the blackest days in aviation history. That Thursday, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot out of the sky over eastern Ukraine by pro-Russian separatists. None of the 298 occupants survived the crash. July 17, 2014 is also the day Klondike begins. Klondike depicts a chilling reality and leaves the viewer more or less oblivious.
On the land near Irka and Tolik’s farm lies a debris from the plane. In addition, a poorly aimed rocket from the separatists has punched a large hole in their house. Escape while you still can, you would think. Yet not, precisely because of the fateful events, the heavily pregnant Irka wants to stay in the house. Her easily inflamed husband, however, feels that a woman in her condition should leave the war zone as soon as possible. The film’s message is very cleverly hidden in the very last shot of the film.
