Will the show “Brave Hearts” continue?

The new year on Ukrainian television started with a serious loss: the military-patriotic show “Brave Hearts” which has been aired on the 1+1 TV channel since August has been suspended. It will be reminded that this project was dedicated to people who showed special heroism during the events in the east of Ukraine. It was probably the first time when a central channel showed those who are concerned with Ukraine’s future and are ready to defend it even risking their lives and health. Over the past year many people have proved to be heroes: doctors, volunteers, mothers of soldiers, and even children. The successful choice of participants, burning issues, frank communication, sincerity and patriotism of the heroes of the show made every issue sensational. However, The Day has been told, the program was costly and difficult in terms of organization. According to the project’s producer Maksym Shylenko, the program has not been cancelled, but it won’t be aired in January and February.

“The channel is amidst the period when the budgets of the projects of the new season are confirmed. It is now being considered whether the show ‘Brave Hearts’ will be further created,” Maksym SHYLENKO told The Day. “Actually, I cannot say anything more about the issue. I will only say that it won’t air in January and February for sure. Indeed, it had good ratings, but it was quite costly. Therefore, I will repeat myself, we don’t know at the moment whether the project will continue.”

The host of the “Brave Hearts,” a well-known actor and director Akhtem Seitablaiev does not know either whether the project will be continued. “Of course, my opinion on the matter is obvious: the project should continue,” the host said, “But we should be honest, the production of the show is really complicated, both in terms of organization and financially. Therefore I absolutely understand the administration of the channel 1+1, which is now trying to decide whether to continue this program and in what format. For me every issue of ‘Brave Hearts’ was special. There are hundreds of people who can be absolutely called heroes. People who accomplished the heroic feat as volunteers, doctors, mothers, and actually, servicemen. Unfortunately, the war goes on and today there are many stories that we want and need to tell. Moreover, films must be shot about them. Let’s take the cyborgs from the Donetsk airport for example. This story actually embodies everything that is needed for a classic story about the country, its heroes and their feats. There’s no need to invent anything. You should take the camera and shoot.”

According to Akhtem Seitablaiev, who in 2012 shot the first full-length feature film about the deportation of the Crimean Tatars Haytarma, the dramatic unfolding of the situation in the country inspired him to shoot a new film about the courageous Ukrainian “cyborgs.”

“We have already started to work on the project of the film,” Akhtem continues, “We are seriously thinking on shooting a full-length feature film about the ‘cyborgs’ and the war in the east, show what they are feeling now. This is very much needed today. Back in the time when I was the host of the ‘Brave Hearts’ show and met with the warriors who defended the airport, I decided for myself: I must make this film.”