The Dark Flame

Andrew Charles Bird

The Dark Flame
Written by Andrew Bird

Synopsis: Based on the true story of Zinaida Portnova, The Dark Flame follows a 15-year-old Belarusian girl who joins the resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II. As the brutal regime tightens its grip on her village, Zinaida is transformed from a carefree teenager into a determined partisan fighter, willing to sacrifice everything to protect her people.

The film opens with Zinaida living a seemingly peaceful life with her family on the outskirts of Leningrad. But the quiet is shattered when German soldiers invade the village, bringing violence, fear, and oppression. After witnessing the brutal execution of a beloved elder, Zinaida’s resolve hardens. She secretly joins a group of Belarusian partisans, known as the Young Avengers, who are dedicated to resisting the Nazi forces.

Zinaida’s journey is one of growth, hardship, and courage. Under the guidance of seasoned partisans like Vasya and the wise, war-hardened Rada, she learns to navigate the dangerous world of guerrilla warfare. Zinaida quickly proves herself as a valuable asset—gathering intelligence, learning to shoot, and participating in sabotage missions against the occupying forces.

The stakes escalate when Zinaida's father, who works in a power plant now controlled by the Nazis, becomes a key figure in a mission to destroy the plant and cripple the enemy's operations. Torn between her duty to the resistance and her family, Zinaida must navigate the emotional and moral complexities of war, especially when the mission puts her family in direct danger.

In a climactic ambush, Zinaida is forced to confront the full brutality of war, killing a German soldier for the first time. The trauma of taking a life begins to weigh on her, but she realizes that survival in this cruel world requires both sacrifice and resilience.

As the partisans plan their final, most dangerous mission, Zinaida must decide how far she is willing to go—and whether the cost of resistance is too high.

The Dark Flame is an intense, emotionally charged story of defiance, survival, and the enduring human spirit, set against the harrowing backdrop of World War II.