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Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023) movie poster

Timeline

Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2023 · 90 min · Ukrainian
Directed by
Roman Perfilyev
Starring
Andriy Borys, Andriy Malynovych, Gen Seto, Kateryna Slyusar, Li Berlinskaya, Roman Lutskyi
Budget
$27.1M

In a unique blend of Western and action genres, a skilled samurai travels through 17th-century Ukraine, pursuing vengeance against the cruel Japanese slaver Harimoto. His quest leads him to Taras, a resilient serf battling his own inner turmoil and striving to rescue his family from captivity. Together, they embark on a perilous journey filled with honor, unwavering loyalty, and the possibility of redemption.

Action Adventure Comedy Western Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Once Upon a Time in Ukraine
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023)

Where can you watch Once Upon a Time in Ukraine? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Pluto TV, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Once Upon a Time in Ukraine Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Investigation Begins

    In Venice, Los Angeles, private investigator Steve Ford is hired to find a young woman named Nola. He enlists the help of his assistant, John, to locate her, but things take an unexpected turn when Ford and Nola become intimate.

    Where
    Venice, Los Angeles

  2. Brothers' Wrath

    After the incident with Nola, Ford faces the wrath of her brothers, who originally hired him. He finds himself on the run and seeks refuge at his friend Tino's pizza place to avoid their confrontation.

    Where
    Tino's Pizza Place

  3. The Car Heist

    As a favor to Tino, whose car was stolen, Ford agrees to steal it back from a gang leader named Spyder. Disguising himself as a pizza delivery man, he manages to infiltrate Spyder's house and secures the car, barely escaping with his life.

    Where
    Spyder's House

  4. Balancing Connections

    Amidst the chaos, Ford tries to balance his personal life, spending time with his beloved dog, sister-in-law Katey, and her daughter. He also supports his best friend Dave, who is dealing with his own divorce issues.

  5. New Job from Lew

    Ford receives another job opportunity from real estate salesman Lew the Jew. Lew wants Ford to investigate the lewd graffiti art on his buildings in exchange for Ford's childhood home, which Lew had purchased.

  6. Home Invasion

    Unfortunately, Ford's troubles intensify when Spyder's clients rob Katey's home, taking his dog in the process. Desperate to get his dog back, Ford approaches Spyder, who demands a substantial amount of money for its return.

    Where
    Katey's Home

  7. Romance Blossoms

    While Ford handles the tense situation, John encounters Nola again and sparks a romance. Their relationship adds complexity to the chaos surrounding Ford's investigations and dealings.

  8. Dealing with Spyder

    After borrowing money from a loan shark named Yuri, Ford pays Spyder the ransom for his dog. However, Spyder reveals a twist: his ex-girlfriend Lupe has stolen the dog along with Spyder's cocaine, complicating Ford's efforts.

  9. The Search for Lupe

    Ford tracks Lupe down to a motel where she is hiding with the stolen cocaine. After a tense encounter, he is momentarily subdued but manages to escape and continues his search for Lupe's whereabouts.

    Where
    Motel

  10. Confronting Rivals

    With the help of Phillips, Ford confronts Lew's rivals to close Lew's case. They discover Lupe sold the cocaine to a gang led by Prince and plan to infiltrate his club to retrieve it.

    Where
    Prince's Club

  11. Preparing for Confrontation

    Ford and Phillips arm themselves as they prepare for their potentially dangerous exchange at Spyder's house. A feeling of tension hangs in the air as they anticipate a possible double-cross.

    Where
    Spyder's House

  12. Deal with Spyder

    During a standoff at Spyder's house, the deal is executed with little drama. Ford and Spyder part ways on relatively good terms, resolving their business without further bloodshed.

    Where
    Spyder's House

  13. A Gift for Family

    After successfully retrieving his childhood home from Lew, Ford decides to give it as a gift to his sister and niece. This act strengthens their family bond and brings a moment of joy amidst the chaos.

  14. Kidnapped by Prince

    Just when Ford begins to enjoy some peace, Prince retaliates by kidnapping John. Now, Ford realizes he must act quickly to save his friend from Prince's grasp, who seeks revenge for his actions.

  15. Rescue Mission

    As Ford and his allies set out to find John, they uncover the location of his captivity. With time running out, they prepare for a rescue mission that could turn dangerous given the circumstances.

Last updated: December 03, 2024 at 14:27

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Timeline questions answered

Once Upon a Time in Ukraine Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Steve Ford sleep with Nola after being hired to find her?

Steve Ford sleeps with Nola despite being hired by her brothers to find her because he becomes genuinely attracted to her during his investigation. This decision proves catastrophic when Nola's brothers discover the affair, turning from clients into vengeful pursuers who now want Ford dead.

  • steve ford
  • nola
  • affair
  • brothers
  • investigation
Q2

Why does Spyder demand money for the dog when his associates already stole it?

Spyder demands a hefty ransom from Ford despite his associates stealing the dog because he's using the situation to extract money. The demand is ostensibly for damages from the earlier car heist at his house, but it's essentially a shakedown leveraging Ford's emotional attachment to his dog.

  • spyder
  • dog
  • ransom
  • steve ford
  • kidnapping
Q3

Why does Lupe steal Spyder's cocaine along with the dog?

Lupe steals both the dog and Spyder's cocaine as a opportunistic double theft. When she leaves Spyder, she takes whatever valuable items she can carry, using the dog as collateral or simply as an afterthought that complicates Ford's rescue efforts.

  • lupe
  • cocaine
  • spyder
  • dog
  • theft
Q4

Why does Prince kidnap John and want revenge on Steve Ford?

Prince wants revenge on Steve Ford because Ford and Phillips infiltrated his club to recover the cocaine that Lupe had sold him. This confrontation embarrassed Prince and cost him his stolen cocaine, prompting him to capture John as leverage for retaliation.

  • prince
  • john
  • kidnap
  • revenge
  • cocaine
Q5

Why does Steve Ford give his childhood home to his sister instead of keeping it?

Steve Ford gives his childhood home to his sister Katey and her daughter as a selfless gift, recognizing that they need stability and security more than he does. After the dangerous ordeal and nearly losing his dog, Ford prioritizes family welfare over personal property.

  • childhood home
  • sister
  • katey
  • family
  • gift
Q6

Why does Steve Ford borrow money from Yuri the loan shark?

Steve Ford borrows money from Yuri the loan shark because he has no other options to pay Spyder's ransom demand. Ford is financially strapped and desperately needs the money quickly to recover his dog before harm comes to it.

  • yuri
  • loan shark
  • debt
  • spyder
  • ransom
Q7

Why does Lew the Jew offer Steve Ford the graffiti job in exchange for his home?

Lew the Jew offers Ford the graffiti investigation job in exchange for his childhood home because Lew had previously purchased the property. He's using Ford's desire to reclaim his childhood home as leverage to get Ford to do investigative work that benefits his real estate business against rival graffiti artists.

  • lew
  • graffiti
  • childhood home
  • job
  • real estate
Q8

How does Steve Ford escape from the motel after being ambushed?

Steve Ford escapes from the motel after being ambushed by a transvestite by fighting back and making a hasty exit. Despite being momentarily subdued during the encounter with Lupe at the motel, Ford manages to recover and continue his pursuit.

  • motel
  • escape
  • lupe
  • transvestite
  • ambush
Q9

Why does Spyder agree to the deal with Ford despite being angry?

Spyder agrees to the deal with Ford because Ford ultimately retrieves the cocaine that Lupe sold to Prince. Since Spyder gets his cocaine back and has already received the ransom money, there's no reason to refuse the exchange. He parts ways cordially as the business transaction is concluded.

  • spyder
  • deal
  • cocaine
  • prince
  • negotiation
Q10

Why do Nola's brothers hire Ford to find her in the first place?

Nola's brothers hire Ford to find her because they're concerned about her whereabouts or behavior and want a professional to locate her. The irony is that they later become Ford's pursuers when they discover he not only found their sister but had an affair with her.

  • nola
  • brothers
  • hire
  • private investigator
  • affair
Q11

Why does John start a romance with Nola after Ford's situation with her?

John starts a romance with Nola during his surveillance mission to track the graffiti artist, where he coincidentally encounters her again. Despite the complicated situation with Ford, John and Nola develop a genuine romantic connection that adds another layer to the story's interpersonal dynamics.

  • john
  • nola
  • romance
  • surveillance
  • relationship

Movie threads

More Movies Like Once Upon a Time in Ukraine, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Once Upon a Time in Ukraine tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Action Duo Rescue Movies like Once Upon a Time in Ukraine

Mismatched partners forge a bond while racing against time to save a life. If you liked the partnership in Once Upon a Time in Ukraine, discover more movies where unlikely duos team up for a perilous rescue. These films share a similar high-stakes, fast-paced structure and themes of loyalty forged in fire, making them perfect for fans of action-packed adventure stories.

  • urgent
  • tense
  • action-packed
  • loyalty
  • redemption
  • partnership
  • Tone: tense, urgent
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a clear, urgent objective—usually a rescue—that forces two distinct characters to collaborate. Their journey is a series of escalating action sequences and challenges that test their partnership, ultimately strengthening their bond as they work towards a common, noble goal.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here based on the compelling dynamic of a mismatched pair and the relentless, goal-oriented plot. They share a specific blend of tense action, character-driven development, and the satisfying arc of an alliance born from necessity.

Double Team movie poster

Double Team

1997
Rescue Heroes: The Movie movie poster

Rescue Heroes: The Movie

2003
The Rescue movie poster

The Rescue

1988
Last to Surrender movie poster

Last to Surrender

1999
Ten Tall Men movie poster

Ten Tall Men

1951
Lone Hero movie poster

Lone Hero

2002
Daulat Ki Jung movie poster

Daulat Ki Jung

1992
Bad Company movie poster

Bad Company

2002

Redemptive Action Thrillers like Once Upon a Time in Ukraine

High-octane journeys through criminal underworlds where heroes seek personal redemption. Find movies like Once Upon a Time in Ukraine that blend gritty crime action with a hopeful, redemptive heart. These films feature tense, fast-paced narratives where characters navigate dangerous worlds to achieve personal salvation, perfect for fans of action with emotional stakes.

  • gritty
  • tense
  • redemptive
  • urgent
  • hopeful
  • suspenseful
  • Tone: tense, gritty, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot typically involves a skilled but morally tested individual being pulled into a chaotic criminal conflict. Their primary motivation is often personal—vengeance, saving a loved one, or atoning for a past failure—which adds emotional weight to the high-stakes action and leads to a positive, morally satisfying conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their unique combination of a fast-paced, tense crime thriller atmosphere with a clearly defined redemptive character arc. The experience balances gritty action with a sense of hope and moral purpose.

Honest Thief movie poster

Honest Thief

2020
Renegades movie poster

Renegades

1989
Trouble movie poster

Trouble

2024
A Dangerous Man movie poster

A Dangerous Man

2009
Final Justice movie poster

Final Justice

1984
Good Bad Ugly movie poster

Good Bad Ugly

2025
Vengeance of an Assassin movie poster

Vengeance of an Assassin

2014
Eenie Meanie movie poster

Eenie Meanie

2025

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Every angle

Once Upon a Time in Ukraine (2023) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Once Upon a Time in Ukraine in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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