"The Undefeated," story of Shukhevych, premieres in New York (03/25/01)

"The Undefeated," story of Shukhevych, premieres in New York

by Areta Komarnicky-Lloyd
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

NEW YORK - The life of a hero - especially the underground insurgent type - is often shrouded in myth, but that of Roman Shukhevych is laid bare in all its gritty glory in Oles Yanchuk's new film "The Undefeated," itself a heroic effort by the Ukrainian filmmaker.

Mr. Yanchuk tells the story of the intrepid general who led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) from 1942 to 1950 through a series of flashbacks set within a chronology of the last weeks of Shukhevych's life. Shukhevych is portrayed as a fiercely nationalistic teenager, proving his loyalty by assassinating a repressive Polish leader; as the head of the Ukrainian legion in the German army, when he takes a bold stand for independence; as a shrewd and clever commander of a 200,000-strong underground army; and as a devoted husband and father, who suffers internally but retains an unwavering duty to his shackled nation.

"He was an exceptionally determined man," said Gregory Hlady, the Ukrainian Canadian actor who played Shukhevych. "I would not be capable of doing what he did."

Mr. Hlady's powerful onscreen presence truly carried the film. The actor, who was born in Ukraine and has resided in Montreal for the last decade, admitted that he was simply overwhelmed by the sheer energy that guided Shukhevych and, in fact, was deeply moved by this particular page in Ukrainian history.

"It touched me to tears," said Mr. Hlady. This struggle, he said, "was unknown beyond the borders of Ukraine - so it was carried entirely on the shoulders of the Ukrainian nation."

Throughout the film, Mr. Yanchuk reveals little-known facts about the underground army and its role during World War II when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union. He depicts the deeply religious nature of the insurgent troops, and further details that it was an entire generation of youth who fought desperately for freedom.

The massacres perpetrated by the retreating Red Army (upon the German advance) are graphic and horrible scenes, but Mr. Yanchuk deserves kudos for showing the grisly truth. In fact, despite some saccharine allegorical scenes, the film stays away from romanticizing the times or life of this until-now mysterious national hero. Instead, Shukhevych is portrayed as a brave army general who who lived and fought during a treacherous time, but, in the end, is undone by circumstance and his own fallibility.

The righting of a man's wronged reputation - and that of the troops who fought with him - was the goal of this endeavor. Call it setting the record straight. At its American debut in New York this week, the film drew a full house at both showings. Judging from audience reaction, viewers felt duly vindicated.

"Roman Shukhevych has been portrayed as a bandit," said Askold Lozynskyj, former president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and current president of the Ukrainian World Congress. For a long time the label "Banderiste," applied to UPA soldiers, was synonymous on the territory of the USSR with terrorist and traitor.

"This film is important because it deals with the untold, or mistold, story," Mr. Lozynskyj underscored.

The UCCA has committed itself to helping produce films that reveal the true history of Ukraine and its heroes - a positive act designed to counter decades of Soviet propaganda. Mr. Yanchuk stated plainly that without the support of the UCCA, the film never would have been made.

"The Undefeated" is the only film to come from Ukraine in at least half a decade; and it is only one of three films this year, according to the filmmaker, that has been produced by Ukrainians about Ukrainians. By comparison, about 70 independent films were made in Russia.

By all accounts, the nascent Ukrainian film industry is practically non-existent. There is little, if any, support from the government and, what is more, nationalistic subject matter has long been held as taboo.

"The previous government had stifled cultural production," said Mr. Yanchuk. "The Ministry of Culture gave a not-insignificant amount of money towards this production, but it was their approval - specifically Viktor Yuschenko's - that really gave this film steam."

The idea for the film was born in New York City during a visit six years ago. Mr. Yanchuk collaborated closely with Mr. Lozynskyj, who helped raise approximately $150,000. It was this money that comprised most of the initial budget. Not willing to disclose the final cost of "The Undefeated," the filmmaker conceded only that his budget did not approach that of a typical Hollywood movie. But it stands up well to any film made, by American standards, on a shoestring budget.

With this, his third film, Mr. Yanchuk has styled himself as a chronicler of modern Ukrainian history. "Why historical themes? I have a personal interest - I open a page of history with each new film," he said.

Apparently the UPA kept photo and other records of its activities (in the film Shukhevych wants to send documents to Russia for storage). Asked if such archives were used for background, Mr. Yanchuk said documentary materials were referred to, but much was not available to them. He then underscored that the film is a drama, not a documentary.

Small touches, such as the careful use of languages - Ukrainian, German and Russian - in the appropriate scenes lend authenticity. Particularly effective is Shukhevych's insistence on speaking Ukrainian even in Odesa, where everyone else spoke Russian. The historic cities of Lviv and Odesa were the backdrop for events that actually took place there. And a good many others were shot on location in the Carpathian Mountains throughout three seasons, with the production team editing the film in parts while waiting for the seasons to change.

Throughout the four-year-long project, Mr. Yanchuk said his challenge lay in maintaining consistency and staying true to the underlying tone. Striving for drama and intrigue in an effort to create an interesting biography, the challenge evident on screen was the telling of the story.

As with all attempts at non-linear storytelling, a clear-cut plot is sometimes lost and "The Undefeated" is no exception. The fact that the drama spans a number of years and the complexity of facts intrinsic to the life of Shukhevych - not to mention the sheer amount of information that the filmmaker wants to get across - jump out at the viewer without retaining a natural cohesiveness.

Packed with details, all squeezed into 99 minutes, "The Undefeated" demands a great deal from the viewer. Read your history before seeing it - but do see it.

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