Filming is currently underway in the Lviv region for the mystical detective film «Tini Zamku. Magiia Taro» («Shadows of the Castle. Tarot Magic»), a project that combines Ukrainian cultural heritage, historical legends, and a modern detective intrigue. The leading roles are performed by Ksenia Mishyna, Ostap Stupka, Anna Sahaydachna, Fatıma Horbenko, Artem Plender, and Angelina Usanova. The events of the film unfold at Pidhirtsi Castle, whose three-hundred-year history and the legend of the White Lady formed the basis of the script.
Plot: Seven guests, a seance, and the secret of the White Lady
According to the plot, on the eve of Veles Night—the Ukrainian equivalent of Halloween—seven guests are invited to the ancient Pidhirtsi Castle. Their task is to conduct a seance and use Tarot cards to summon the White Lady, a mysterious figure associated with one of the most famous legends of this historical structure. However, the ritual becomes only the beginning of the story: the characters gradually realize that they are united by much more than a random invitation, and solving the legend of the White Lady may be inextricably linked to their own destinies.
Two temporal dimensions: The 18th century and modern times
The film's plot develops in two temporal planes. One of them transports viewers back to the 18th century, revealing the story of Count Rzewuski and his young wife. The other unfolds in the present day, where the characters must figure out how the events of past centuries are connected to them and what role the White Lady, portrayed on screen by Angelina Usanova, plays in this story. Such a narrative device allows combining historical drama with mystical intrigue, creating a multi-layered narrative structure.
Pidhirtsi Castle as the «main character» of the film
The film crew consciously chose Pidhirtsi Castle for shooting, as its very legend became the basis of the script. «The script was written specifically about this castle in Pidhirtsi, about its legend, so we ended up here with the team not by chance. It was important for us to film right here, in this atmosphere», stated director Semyon Horov. The creators pay special attention to the visual component: the film will feature a large-scale ball scene, historical costumes, mystical props, and authentic castle interiors.
Production and international cooperation
The film is being created by the Ukrainian studio UnitedContentHUB in co-production with Latvia's Cinevilla Studio. The author of the idea and script is Yulia Salimovska, and the director is Semyon Horov. General producer of the project Andriy Nogin emphasized that the story combines Ukrainian cultural heritage with a plot capable of engaging an international audience. «The mysticism of the three-hundred-year-old castle, Tarot card readings on Veles Night, Ukrainian Halloween, and an unexpected ending of the story—we are sure they will resonate with a wide audience in Ukraine and the world», he added. The official film distributor in Ukraine is B&H Classic Films. At the time of publication, the filming process is ongoing.
