Age Gap

starring: TETIANA MALKOVA & RUBAN BOGDAN

When ghost writer Sophie Jones mistakenly gets in young rockstar Brennan Stroke’s car thinking it is her taxi, things get complicated fast...

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is absolutely brilliant on DramaShorts.

Some of you have been telling me to watch the Ukrainian verts, and I have finally got around to it.

WOW.

The writing is I think the best I have seen in a vertical, because every character is fully rounded, and things don't go where you expect.

Ex husband Andriy Dzhedzhula has flaws, but also ends up wanting his wife to be happy, and always prioritises their daughter.

Mum manager Olena Kurta goes too far to protect her son's career, but does see the error of her ways.

They are actual people not just cyphers.

And the central pairing is phenomenal.

Tetiana Malkova is amazing. Funny and sexy and vulnerable and strong when she needs to be. Sophie is a cool, awesome woman.

The scenes at the beginning when she is drunk are hilarious, her insight that Brennan never had a childhood and determination to bring the fun back into his life, and then the way she slowly starts folding in upon herself when she thinks the relationship won't work.

Ruban Bogdan brings the required presence and charisma for a rock star, but also a cheeky charm, and sadness at having grown up so soon.

And finally we have proper music in a vert, with Brennan performing a song Ruban helped write and record. And it is a darn good song.

The whole thing is another level - the script, the story, the look and quality and the performances of everyone.

Yes there is quite a bit of sex, and choking is mentioned. BUT it is consensual and an equal partnership. Healthy! It is not used as a power play or part of a toxic relationship. This is the difference people.

And it needs to be said, everyone here is acting in their second language. And making films in difficult circumstances (Ruban has a recent post that during work they had to take shelter 3 times due to Russian missile attacks).

It is flipping astonishing that with all these challenges you then get one of the best verts I have ever watched, definitely the best age gap vert and miles better than the Anne Hathaway vehicle The Idea Of You which was dreadful.

THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE A VERTICAL.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

Ruban Bodgan can 100% pull off Rock Star swagger, and we actually have an original song performed and written for the movie. Plus Sophie & Brennan have chemistry in spades, but also have fun together, look after each other and try and help each other. It is a fully developed relationship.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Now it is kind of set up to be Brennan’s mom/manager (Olena Kurta) but because this is so brilliantly written, you end up forgiving her. All these characters have dimensions, and are fully rounded people.

😂 Comedy gold:

The opening few episodes with drunk Sophie are some of the funniest I have seen in a vert - Tetiana Malkova is a comedy genius, and it is made all the better with the facial expressions Brennan pulls whilst handcuffed to that bed.

And we all knew the shopping trolley fun would end like that 🛒😆.

🎺 Unsung hero:

Sophie’s ex husband. BECAUSE HE IS NOT A TOTAL JERK. He ends up helping Brennan and Sophie get together. In Vertland this feels like a total miracle.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Directors Liulia Zakharchuk and Ihor Zaitsev | 2025

Available on DramaShorts