‘Firebird’: I urge you to watch this LGBTQ+ film

It never ceases to amaze me how many pitches for interviews, reviews and exhibits we receive as columnists. Sometimes, it’s so overwhelming that you’d almost like to change all of your contact information. Most of the emails come from a mass list of columnists and influencers, but every once in a while, you’re surprised by an email or call.

A few weeks ago, I received an email that was so sincere and relevant to a subject with which I had a personal connection, though the sender had absolutely no idea about that connection. When I contacted them, they were as surprised as I was.

Here’s the story: It was one of those nights when you find yourself sitting in your living room, looking for a movie to stream. In this case, I searched the LGBTQ+ section and found a film titled “Firebird.” Here’s the description of the movie: “At the height of the Cold War, a troubled Russian soldier forms a forbidden love triangle with a Soviet fighter pilot and his female comrade amid the dangerous surroundings of a Soviet air force base.”

I’ve traveled to Russia on three occasions, and on the first two trips, it was during the Soviet era or at its end. Some of the experiences I had there at times had military implications. Before you get the wrong idea, let me explain. There was the time the State Department arranged for me to enter the Kremlin, with the KGB guarding me, or the time my good friend Patsy Lynch almost got us arrested in the streets of St. Petersburg for attempting to buy a military watch. Then, of course, there was my visit to a military base in Moscow. I believe the full stories of these events are in my memoir, but there’s too little space here to write in detail. To say the least, the film’s description caught my attention. It’s a great film, and I can attest that it captures the feeling of Soviet Russia to a tee. I urge you to watch it.

Then I received this email from the film’s director, Peeter Rebane:

“I was recommended to contact you about a book that we published recently.

“I directed and co-wrote the feature film Firebird (distributed by Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions). It’s a forbidden love story set in the 1970s Soviet Air Force about a young private falling in love with a fighter pilot. Based on a true story, it is a memoir by the Russian actor Sergey Fetisov. Both the book and the film are forbidden in Russia.

“We screened Firebird at close to seventy festivals around the world and released it in cinemas across the UK and US in April 2022. We partnered with AllOut to help their cause.

“Next, we self-published Sergey’s original memoir, ‘The Story of Roman,’ as our last promise to Sergey (he passed away in 2017), with backing from over 500 Kickstarter supporters.

I decided to do a bit of personal outreach to get the word out about Sergey’s book.”

I rarely recommend products, but I’m happy to recommend this one. You can stream it on many platforms, but best yet, go to the website and get a copy of the book, DVD, Blu-ray, and so much more at firebirdmovie.myshopify.com. The point of the story is that we are everywhere, and a country cannot just wish us out of existence. Our love will persevere, even in Russia.