Screening of “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” | Tallinn

On 13 December the Ukrainian Film Club in Estonia invites you to a screening of Serhii Parajanov’s cult Ukrainian film “SHADOWS OF FORGOTTEN ANCESTORS”.

The film is considered a masterpiece of Ukrainian poetic cinema and ranks first on the list of the 100 best films in the history of Ukrainian cinema.

It was shot in 1965 at the Dovzhenko Film Studio in Kyiv, and premiered on 4 September of the same year in Kyiv.

Sixty years later, you can see the restored version of the film, which has become the world’s best in technological terms. The restoration was made possible through cooperation between the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio (Ukraine) and The Film Foundation World Cinema Project (Italy). The screening is part of the “Culture vs War” project founded by the “Watch Ukrainian” Association!

The plot is based on the novella of the same name by the outstanding Ukrainian writer Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, which tells of two feuding Hutsul families. Despite a history of enmity and hatred lasting for years, there is room for love. Ivan of the Paliichuk family and Marichka of the Hutenko family fall in love. But their happiness is not destined to last: while searching for a lost sheep, Marichka tragically dies in a mountain river. Ivan suffers the loss deeply and wanders for a long time, and a few years later marries another woman, Palahna. Yet he cannot forget Marichka – her ghost keeps haunting him, which ultimately leads to a tragic ending. In his dying delirium Ivan is finally able to find his happiness.

• Genre: poetic drama combining a romantic love story with rich Hutsul folklore and ethnographic elements.
• Starring: Ivan Mykolaichuk (debut role), Larysa Kadochnikova, Tetiana Bestaieva.
• Recognition and influence: the film achieved worldwide fame, winning 39 international awards, including 24 Grand Prix at film festivals in 21 countries. Harvard University even included it in the list of compulsory viewing for film studies students.

* the film will be shown in Ukrainian with English subtitles

During the screening we will join the global campaign STOP HUMAN SAFARI / SAVE KHERSON, which will take place around the world on 13–14 December, to protest against a new war crime: Russia’s use of small commercial drones to hunt civilians in Ukraine. This tactic, documented by the UN and Human Rights Watch, is the first known case of civilian-type drones being used to track and kill people at close range. The drone attacks are part of a wider humanitarian and security crisis in Kherson caused by relentless Russian shelling with artillery, missiles and other weapons. Housing, infrastructure and critical services have been repeatedly destroyed, leaving civilians in constant danger.

The “human safari” in Kherson is a warning: weaponising cheap technology puts every city at risk. Recent reports of Russian and unidentified drones violating the airspace of Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and other European countries underline the urgency of global attention.

The campaign’s demands:

• Russia must immediately stop drone attacks on civilians;
• Those responsible must face international justice;
• States must support Ukraine with measures to protect civilians and with air defence systems;
• The UN and the international community must strengthen legal mechanisms to prevent drone attacks on civilians.

We look forward to seeing you all at the screening to support the global campaign together and watch a classic of Ukrainian cinema!

As this will be the last screening of the year before Christmas, we have prepared Christmas treats for you: the Song and Dance Ensemble “Volya” will perform, and we will hold a festive lottery with valuable prizes for everyone who wishes to take part.

When: 13 December, 15:00

Where: Kino Sõprus, Vana-Posti 8

Admission: your charitable donation