“Gladiator” of Ukrainian Cinema

The celebrated film director Oleksandr Dovzhenko’s birthday was solemnly marked at the capital’s film studios bearing his name. September 12 is officially considered the Ukrainian Cinema Day. Over the past several years on this date filmmakers have gathered by the statue, mostly to complain of hard life, meager government subsidies, businessmen failing to understand their principal mission (being patrons of the arts), and inadequate legislation depriving their art of all privileges.

That Thursday proved different. The atmosphere was truly festive, owing to the film director Kira Muratova being awarded the Dovzhenko State Prize (UAH 50,000). The jury was unanimous, because her creative attainments are perhaps the only thing the Ukrainian cinema can proudly display for the world to see. Her latest “Chekhov Motives” was a great success at the festival in Venice, accompanied by praising press reviews. With her films (e.g., Brief Meetings, A Long Seeing-off, Asthenic Syndrome, Three Stories...) she proves that talented productions are possible, contrary to everything, be it political censorship or economic hardships. Anyway, she can find money for her films (albeit most likely not as much as she actually needs) because both her sponsors and the state realize that being involved in her projects is a matter of honor. Her creative endeavors are an inalienable and important part of the European filmmaking process.

Born in Odesa and invariably considered by the Russians as “their” film director, she took a course of practical training as a student under Oleksandr Dovzhenko. It did not last long because he died a month later. Now she was with colleagues congratulating her on the prize. Mykhailo Ilyenko recalled Sergei Paradzhanov praising her talent, saying she was one of the best modern film directors. He described her as a “gladiator of the Ukrainian cinema,” meaning her creative and general human uncompromising stand. Gladiator? Probably, but certainly the world’s tenderest and prettiest. Showered with compliments, Kira was deeply moved and said she was happy to learn the news at the Dovzhenko Studios where, regrettably, she hadn’t been a frequent guest of late.

Vice Premier Valery Semynozhenko spoke during the ceremony, stressing that there was something the Ukrainian cinema could feel proud about, there were people serving as the best of examples. It is also true, however, that such examples were not easy to follow. (The Day has described the current situation in the Ukrainian filmmaking industry.) “Therefore, properly equipping the Ukrainian film studios and the Institute’s film department is one of the priorities of the Ministry of Culture,” stressed Mr. Semynozhenko and assured those present that the problem would be shortly resolved. Nevertheless, the film and television faculty students proclaimed a manifesto and announced they were going on a three-day hunger strike.

Mykola Ilyenko informed the vice premier about his department’s demands, specifically that the money channeled in the domestic moviemaking process be tax-exempt. This is practiced all over the civilized world, emphasized the film director.

Indeed, the Ukrainian filmmakers’ status does not inspire a festive mood.