Mr. Pilipenko and His Submarine

In landlocked Ukraine, they have a saying for when something is impossible: “That's like a submarine in the Ukrainian steppe!” But for 53-year-old Vladimir Andreyevich Pilipenko nothing is impossible. Despite several skeptics, including his wife, Pilipenko has been constructing a full-scale submarine, dubbed Dolphin, in the shed behind his house for the past 20 years. Using nearly all of his meager income, he has built the bright green submarine according to diagrams in 1980s underwater sports magazines. Pilipenko innovatively added wheels to his model to ease transportation of the sub through his isolated village. Though final test runs in Pilipenko's fish pond prove less than successful, this eager builder will not be deterred. He dreams of submerging his vessel in the Black Sea without even considering how he will get his boat in the water. Jan Hinrik Drevs and René Harder's documentary, MR. PILIPENKO AND HIS SUBMARINE, heartwarmingly and humorously shares the final stages of Pilipenko's inspiring journey to attain the unattainable. (In Russian with English subtitles) – E.J.B.