IDFA Bertha Fund 2014
Ukrainian Sheriffs
Ukrainian Sheriffs
Roman Bondarchuk
Ukraine, Latvia, Germany
In the country with the biggest police force in Europe, Ukraine, there is a lack of policemen in rural communities therefore villagers of Stara Zburievka village have found a solution. They chose two local men – the smartest and the strongest – to take care of the public order. Villagers give them power, a car, and shiny tokens and name them “sheriffs”. Sometimes wild and violent, the other times awkward and funny, sheriffs’ actions, according to the village community, are always fair. However, the recent political events taking place in Ukraine have changed the situation in Stara Zburievka village, too.