Vasyl Bendas

"Strong Ivan" is a film telling an outstanding life story of Ivan Firtsak who was born in June, 1899 in a Ukrainian village Bilky, Irshava district in Zakarpattia Oblast. At the age of 18 he became a performer with a Czechoslovak circus and travelled to 64 countries of the world, astonishing everybody with his victories. He was a weightlifting champion of Czechoslovakia, a bodybuilding champion of Europe. He earned the nickname Strong Ivan Croton for his incredible strength. Ivan Firtsak won a great number of single combats with famous wrestlers of the world. From hands of the Queen of England he received a helmet and a belt decorated with cold and diamonds. American press called him the strongest man of the XX century. In 1937 in the prime of his fame he came back to the homeland.

American boy Peter and blind minstrel Ivan are thrown together by fate amidst the turbulent mid-30s Soviet Ukraine.

In the mythical land of Charmswood, young Marco is pursued by the forces of the wicked Lord Morok, catapulting him into an epic adventure that soon involves a stoic warrior and comical sorceress.

The story begins with an ordinary family celebrating New Year at their house. Having seen an announcement on TV about the intergalactic song contest "Cosmovision", Masha immediately decides to take part in it. Her family supports her and goes with her and the aliens to the contest. There, the earthlings meet the stars of intergalactic show business: the legendary singer Diva, the hero Zed, the talented artist Fortiano and the cunning pop singer Baron-Star, who is planning something terrible against the "Cosmovision" participant Masha.

It is evening, children are gathered around the fire, and the old miller begins to tell them a fairy tale. In his tale, Mykola, a bursak, goes to Mr. Adam to teach his daughter Khrystyna to read and write. But on the way to the manor, Mykola learns that the village has been invaded by evil spirits, werewolves, and air-breathers, and that Mr. Adam himself is in captivity. Mykola and Khrystyna decide to free the prisoners and the land from evil spirits, but they will have to go through many trials.