Okradena Zemlya Premieres in Toronto and Hamilton

Okradena Zemlya, the newly released Ukrainian-language documentary film on the Holodomor, 1932-1933 Famine-Genocide in Soviet Ukraine, was recently shown by the League of Ukrainian Canadians and Women’s League at Toronto’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre on May 14 and by the Hamilton Branches of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Ukrainian National Federation at the UNF Hamilton Hall on June 16. 

Toronto’s premiere screening was opened by Dr. Oleh Romanyshyn who introduced the film’s  producer-director Yurij Luhovy, emphasizing the need for new famine-genocide educational materials.  Mr. Luhovy’s introductory remarks included a brief comparison of how he worked on Harvest of Despair over 25 years ago and now, produced this new documentary on the famine-genocide.  With the fall of the USSR, finally he had access to the former famine-stricken areas of Eastern Ukraine, was able to travel close to the Ukraine-Russia border, interview survivors still living in those areas and had access to previously closed documentation and film archives on the subject.  Working long hours with his crew, he thanked the initial financial contributors for their trust in providing start-up funds to begin the project in May 2008. In his concluding remarks, Orest Steciw reiterated the need for an English language version of the film for teaching use in schools and for public awareness.

At the Hamilton Premiere, Luba Petlura from the UCC Hamilton Branch opened the event and introduced the film’s producer/director Yurij Luhovy.  She emphasized the need for new educational material on the famine-genocide, especially since it had been approved in the teaching curriculum in various provinces in Canada, including the Province of Ontario.

Following the screening of Okradena Zemlya, author and famine-genocide survivor Lena Onushko-Tychowska presented her recently published book “Ne Zabuvajmo 1932-33” to the filmmaker. Several other famine-genocide survivors were also present.

Closing remarks were made by Dmytro Bojecko, President of the UNF Hamilton Branch. His wife Raissa, who was present at the premiere, lived through the Famine-Genocide. Mr. Bojecko, who was moved by the film, and thanked Yurij Luhovy for his efforts to make a new documentary based on newest archival materials and eyewitness accounts.  He too stressed the need for an English-language version of the documentary for students and general public.

Following the film showing, the audience members commented on the extensive use of archival film footage and on how effectively the Famine-Genocide was placed within the various destructive political upheavals in the 1930’s orchestrated by Stalin.

In 1985, the UCC Hamilton Branch placed a memorial plaque near Hamilton City Hall in remembrance of victims of the 1932-33 Famine-Genocide.

From the start, this powerful documentary draws its audience into the Holodomor, grasping the events of the time and the progression of Ukraine’s destruction, over the film’s 1 hour and 15 min.  Real faces are attached to the perpetrators of the Famine-Genocide as seen in the effective use of archival film footage and the use of newly found documents, including among them shots of Stalin, Kaganovich, Molotov, Kossior and others.  Luhovy’s 35-years of experience at MGM and various international film productions, was masterfully used in the tight editing of Okradena Zemlya.  The film makes a valuable contribution to famine-genocide general awareness.

To arrange for a showing of Okradena Zemlya in your city or to financially support the making of the English-language version of the documentary, tentatively called “Genocide Revealed”, please call: (514) 481-5871; e-mail Yurij Luhovy at: mmlinc@hotmail.com or write to 2330 ave Beaconsfield, Montreal, Quebec H4A 2G8. Cheques may be made out to: MML Inc.-Genocide Revealed. The English-language version is planned for November 2009.  The film is under the patronage of the Ukrainian World Congress.