“Ukrainian experiment”: Dissonances of dignity

Cinema remains one of the few art forms that document in detail the events in Ukraine that began at Euromaidan and continue to this day. Almost every week a new film dedicated to revolution or war emerges from the turbulent whirlpool of the present. One of the last such films was directed by Sergei Masloboishchikov. It’s called “The Ukrainian Argument” and its premiere will take place tomorrow, February 19.

The documentary film reproduces in front of the viewer a panorama of the people who came to Euromaidan. These are obsessive idealists, ordinary peasants, inspired foreigners, and their outspoken opponents… Short interviews with protesters give the viewer the opportunity to understand the main problems of our realities.

What language do you speak? What do you want to change in our country? How would you like to live? The answers to these and other simple questions diagnose the underlying diseases of the system in which we live. Thus, the “Ukrainian Argument” becomes a kind of educational program for foreigners who know little about our country. And in the case of domestic viewers, the film provides an opportunity to compare their own opinion with what is heard on the screen.

The tape begins with a wide shot of the dirty, frozen fingers of a protester, who clumsily clucks a few notes on a street yellow and blue piano. In the film, this somewhat clumsy playing harmoniously transitions into Schnittke’s piano compositions. Probably no other music can convey the panicky atmosphere of confusion and depression that reigned in the center of Kyiv during clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

While most documentaries about Euromaidan focus on one side of the conflict, this film also contains remarks from anti-Maidan activists. At the same time, people who oppose European integration are shown without stereotypical negativity. If you look closely at the faces of the latter, you will see no less sincerity than those who opposed the previous government.

Among the numerous panorama of demonstrators shown in the film, several receive special attention. Replies by Igor from Lvov, Kiev resident Nikolai, Tatyana from Berlin and Vadim Skuratovsky make up almost half of the entire timing. This introduces an unpleasant dissonance of one-sidedness into the motley rhythm of the film.

Ten years ago, Sergei Masloboishchikov released the documentary “People of Maidan Nevseremos!” The film includes short conversations with people during the Orange Revolution, and a year after its end. When asked if anything had changed this year, most of the characters in the film only remained silent in confusion.

Unlike the mentioned picture, “The Ukrainian Argument” does not draw conclusions. Having dumped a chaos of a wide variety of remarks and opinions onto the screen, the authors of the film leave the viewer alone with their thoughts. The question “what has changed this year?” not placed in the tape. Maybe it’s not time to draw conclusions yet. Or maybe we have nothing to answer again…

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