NEWS AND VIEWS: The Ukrainian language speaks film (04/02/06)

NEWS AND VIEWS

The Ukrainian language speaks film

by Christina Kotlar

Film speaks all languages, and one of the best ways for the world to understand what the Ukrainian state of mind is all about the language, culture, history and present day is to create a new state of independence: independent film.

While Hollywood manages to hold onto its image (and money) for commercial film dominance, always looking for the next box office bonanza, the independent film industry is chipping away at this proverbial Berlin Wall of big budgets, blockbusters and remakes. Great stories, low budgets and alternative distributions have made inroads for independent filmmakers to show films without having to sell their soul or sign away their first-born.

Film festivals have taken on the role of vehicle and venue, with certain festivals becoming the place for a film's world premiere and generating enough buzz to take an unknown to the Academy Awards within a year's strategy on the festival circuit.

There are over 2,200 film festivals going on all over the world this year, providing a venue for just about any genre you can think of.

I found one festival in Ukraine the Kyiv Molodist Film Festival scheduled in October. It's been going on for a number of years, but there isn't a lot of buzz about it in the news (but that can always change). What's needed is an independent film industry that allows old and new filmmakers to produce and screen films in venues available for the public to see and hear in Ukrainian.

Recently, a new film, "Orange Sky" (Pomarancheve Nebo), was released in public theaters. I'm not sure what the marketing and distribution plans were for this film, but I do know it was a bold move on the producer's part, to make the decision to circumvent the independent film festivals and markets and plunge headfirst into an unforgiving spotlight. On the other hand, it could be a great financial and critical success.

The film business is fickle and extremely tough, especially on a fledgling industry such as in Ukraine right now. It needs all the support it can get and, like any other enterprise, the first springboard to success is the support of its core constituency. Perhaps that's why I hesitate to do a critique on this film, or film reviews in general. It's a lot of blood, sweat and heartache to make a film, and usually you don't make a profit of any kind.

I read about "Orange Sky" in The Ukrainian Weekly of March 19. While it certainly can be argued that this was only an opinion, the writer is an editor for the publication and, therefore, to me the opinion counts for something. I was surprised and dismayed that the interpretations were both personal and subjective, inferring a rather negative impression. I usually don't pay attention to bad critics and try not to be negative about someone's hard work; nevertheless, it planted a seed in my mind that the film is not very good. Once that happens, well, then it's time for a panakhyda (requiem service).

My views, too, can be critical if I don't like a highly promoted marketing effort fronted by millions of dollars in P&A (promotion and advertising), but this may not be the case in Ukraine. This is the first "Ukrainian-financed-written-produced and-directed film for national commercial release" (The Ukrainian Weekly, March 12, front page). If Ukrainian film and filmmakers are going to succeed, they need support from the Ukrainian community worldwide and not be panned because it doesn't suit someone's "perhaps I'm a bit prudish" taste.

Just as the Orange Revolution changed the country's political situation, it's time to plant the seeds that will take root and grow into a viable film culture. And, while "Orange Sky" may not be the film that changes the world, it's a step in the right direction.

I haven't seen "Orange Sky" and don't know when I will have the opportunity to do so, but I will see it for sure.

Christina Kotlar has a master's degree in producing for film and video from American University in Washington. She has co-produced an independent feature film, written a short film and is working on a documentary about the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Currently, she is managing editor for Film Festival Reporter, a publication devoted to covering the Film Festival circuit worldwide and promoting independent film and the filmmaker.

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