“I CALL ON THE WORLD TO UNITE AGAINST PUTIN’S RUSSIA”; UKRAINIAN FILM INDUSTRY RALLIES IN DEFIANCE.

In the late 1960s, as the majority of Soviet filmmakers were adhering to the stark paradigms of ‘social realism’ cinema, director Serhiy Paradzhanov was forging an elevated film style called ‘Ukrainian Poetic Cinema’. Those three words speak of the elegance of Ukrainian film culture and the role it represents to the nation and its population; an artform that embraces life in the independent democracy with optimism and grace.

In the days after Russia’s declaration of war against the sovereign state of Ukraine, key figures in contemporary Ukrainian film culture spoke to the website Cineuropa.org about their reactions to Putin’s assault and how they hope the rest of the world will react.  

OLEH SENTSOV (pictured, right)
Director - Rhino (2020); Numbers (2021): “Putin does not dwell on Ukraine. This is a full-scale war. This is a challenge to the whole democratic world. We are not only defending our land; we are resisting the impending tyranny. The time of concern is over. It is time to fight for freedom and truth.”

VALENTYN VASYANOVYCH 
Director - Reflection (2021); Atlantis (2019): “I am staying in Kyiv. I want to be among people who are aware of their ethnic, cultural and political affiliation. I want to be among these people to gain important experiences that will help me create true stories about them. I want to be part of a force that will lead to the destruction of the evil empire.”

MARYNA ER GORBACH (pictured, right)
Director - Love Me (2013); Omar and Us (2019) Klondike (2022): “Dear colleagues…every minute of delay in making influential decisions takes away the lives of Ukrainians now and every life outside Ukraine in the future. World security is in the hands of the Ukrainian army. Be brave and determined, support the demands of Ukrainian politicians. Do it for the future of your own children!”

ANNA MACHUKH
Executive Director of the Ukrainian Film Academy and the Odesa International Film Festival: “These actions are unforgivable and will never be forgotten. Now more than ever, Ukraine needs the help of the international community, not only their support and concern, but with certain actions. It’s not the time now to bury your head in the sand. It's time to call out. Russia has started the war against Ukraine, and tomorrow it may be at your door.”

NATALIA VOROZHBYT (pictured, right)
Director - Bad Roads (2020): “We live in the centre of Europe, in the 21st century, in Ukraine. Our closest neighbours are Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Baltics and Romania. Nearby are Germany, France, Italy – we go there by car. This is not just our war; it will affect every European. It can destroy our world. Your participation, support and help are very much needed now, as well as your speeches, protests, money, weapons and sanctions. I call on the world to unite against Putin's Russia and win together.”

IRYNA TSILYK (pictured, right)
Director - The Earth Is Blue as an Orange (2020); Home (2016): “We see the real face of Russian fascism now. The Russian dictator has started a full-scale invasion in Ukraine…It is important to understand that the Russian neo-Führer and the millions of his voiceless or agreeable people have started the war not only against Ukraine, but against the whole of Europe and the whole Western world…The main thing is not [to] watch silently as the leviathan is trying to devour Ukraine. Your country could be the next one in his crosshairs.”

NARIMAN ALIEV 
Director - Homeward (2019): “Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and for its right to freedom. The Russian Federation is no longer ashamed to attack a sovereign country in front of the eyes of the entire world. We need support and assistance: military, economic, informational. Go to the squares in your cities and put pressure on the leaders of your countries to provide real assistance to Ukraine. Why do we have a voice if we are afraid to use it to destroy evil and avoid innocent people suffering?”

Originally published at Cineuropa.org, February 25 2022.

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