Hollywood premieres "The Undefeated" (07/22/01)

Hollywood premieres "The Undefeated"

by Bohdan Z. Malaniak

LOS ANGELES - The screening of Oles Yanchuk's film "The Undefeated" took place on May 5 at the Westwood Campus of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). Ukrainian Americans, as well as students and faculty from UCLA filled the theater to capacity.

Luba Keske, vice-president of Hollywood Trident Network and chairperson of California Association to Aid Ukraine (CAAU), and Mark Semotiuk, UCLA undergrad and president of the Ukrainian Students Club of UCLA, coordinated this special event, with the participation of the following Los Angeles-based Ukrainian organizations: Ukrainian Culture Center, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCLA), California Association to Aid Ukraine, Ukrainian Students Club of UCLA, as well as the Hollywood Trident Network which initiated the event.

The Hollywood Trident Network, of which Jack Palance is the honorary chairman, was formed to bring together entertainment and media industry professionals in support of the following objectives: to support fellow members in their career pursuits in the entertainment and media industry in Hollywood and internationally; to facilitate contact among professionals working in the entertainment industry who are interested in Ukrainian affairs; and to conduct seminars, workshops and other educational projects for members.

As filmgoers entered the UCLA campus, they immediately noticed Ukrainian flags being waved by young members of the CAAU, who were also directing traffic toward the James Bridges Theater in Melnitz Hall.

Before the viewing of the film, Alexander Rivney, president of Los Angeles branch of the UCCA, welcomed all in attendance. Mr. Semotiuk then introduced Mr. Yanchuk, the award-winning director of the film "Famine 33." Mr. Semotiuk emphasized the fact that Mr. Yanchuk's "The Undefeated" is the true story of Roman Shukhevych, also known as Gen. Taras Chuprynka, who led the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) against the Nazis and Soviets, both enemies of the Ukrainian people.

The lights dimmed, the opening credits came on - and as the film began, the background music, sound effects and scenery overwhelmed the audience.

For this writer the film was personally touching as my entire family and I were close friends of the Shukhevych family since the early 1930s. We lost touch with them when we left Lviv, right at the time the German Army began its retreat from the advancing soviet forces. (We corresponded with surviving members of the family throughout the Cold War period, and we continue to be in touch and whenever possible visit with them.)

The scene in which Shukhevych bids farewell to his wife, Natalka, and accepts her decision not to leave Ukraine, was exactly what I remember from reminiscences with my family. During the time that Roman Shukhevych was being hunted down by the Nazis, his son, Yuriy, lived with my family in Lviv and he shared many things with us about his father. Thus, the scene in the film between Yuriy and his father seemed unbelievably real to me. (Incidentally, during that period of time, Yuriy and I were getting ready to join the ranks of the UPA; he was 12 years old and I was almost 15.

As the end credits rolled on the screen, the entire audience, many with tears in their eyes, gave the performers and the director a well-deserved standing ovation.

It was an unforgettable event: a remarkable part of Ukrainian history had just been shown on the big screen.

The audience then was invited to attend a reception in the theater lobby, where it had an opportunity to meet and speak with Mr. Yanchuk, and enjoy the delicious buffet prepared by the ladies of the Ukrainian Culture Center.

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