Red Rue Express (c)Splendid Film

press release
Full Steam Ahead into Love – Welcome Aboard the RED RUE EXPRESS

Red Rue Express (c)Splendid Film
Published Aug 20, 2026
(Cologne, August 20, 2026) – Following “December 31st Express” and “Train to Christmas,” the third travel rom-com from Ukraine is set to hit German theaters: The romantic comedy “Red Rue Express” revolves entirely around the question of love at first sight and takes the audience on a turbulent train journey across the country.

“Red Rue Express” was produced to mark three special Ukrainian anniversaries: the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence (August 24, 2026), the 56th anniversary of the premiere of the famous Ukrainian song “Chervona Ruta,” and the 55th anniversary of the legendary 1971 musical film of the same name.

The Plot:
Experienced railroad worker Mykola Ivanovych is tasked with training the young Denys—but Denys is mostly interested in the charming blogger Diana. Meanwhile, in the dining car, the long-standing relationship between Petrovych and Pavlivna begins to falter. On Ukrainian Independence Day, the journey finally takes them all together to a festive concert in the Carpathians.

In the Netherlands, director Oleksii Yesakov’s heartwarming rom-com will hit theaters on August 27, 2026. On August 24, 2026, the festive premiere—featuring a live concert by the Ukrainian Choir—will take place at the Pathé Arena in Amsterdam, organized in cooperation with Ukrainian community organizations in the Netherlands, the Ukrainian Institute, and the Embassy of Ukraine. German movie fans can look forward to the theatrical release on August 24, 2026.

The film will be shown in theaters exclusively in the Ukrainian-language version (with German subtitles in some parts).

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