“A week of Yurii Illienko’s films” in Vinnytsia

“The Vinnytsia program (in Rodina Movie Theater) will be launched with the screening of a famous film Prayer for Hetman Mazepa. This version essentially differs from the film presented in 2002 at the Berlin Film Festival and shot by Yurii Herasymovych shortly before his death,” the film master’s son Pylyp ILLIENKO told The Day. “The film has an offscreen commentary of the author who explains the historical context of the events in the film and to a certain extent tells the story of the film’s creation and existence.”

The film will be presented by People’s Artist of Ukraine, the director’s widow Liudmyla Yefimenko, producer Pylyp Illienko, as well as performers of the roles and Illienko’s friends. Besides, the retrospective screenings included seven films by Illienko, considered by the author as his greatest cinematography achievements, specifically The Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, A Well for the Thirsty People, An Ivana Kupala Evening, A White Bird with a Black Mark, The Forest Song. Mavka, The Legend about Princess Olha, and Swan’s Lake. The Zone.

All these films have been digitalized within the state program of restoration and preserving the cinema legacy of Yurii Illienko. It will be reminded that “The Week of Yurii Illenko’s Films” have been a success not only in Kyiv, but also Ivano-Frankivsk, Kaniv, Dniprodzerzhynsk, and Kharkiv. The recent screening was held again in our capital at the request of the audience. Incidentally, the residents of Vinnytsia will be able to buy Illienko’s books The Paradigm of Cinema and A Report to Apostle Peter in three volumes, as well as the new, one-volume edition of the latter. A collection of Illienko aphorisms and expressions, A Well for the Thirsty People will also be presen­ted for the audience.