Euromaidan. Rough Cut

Footage shot from various perspectives by protesters in Kiev shows ordinary people transformed into soldiers. They sing battle songs and fight with weapons, feeling the terror of the riots and the euphoria of victory. At first, the citizens of Kiev gather peacefully on the square around the carcass of the Christmas tree that quickly comes to symbolize the protest. The pulling down of Lenin’s statue sparks discussions among bystanders, especially between the generations. Micro-level conversations raise the film above the level of news footage, giving the masses a more personal identity. Once the unrest escalates, this attractive and prosperous city becomes a war zone, with front lines in the subway corridors. The scene is palpable to the viewer as heavily armed demonstrators help little old ladies get by the barricades while bullets and tear gas fly back and forth. Various filmmakers passed on their selected raw footage to director Roman Bondarchuk, who edited it into a collection of cinematic stories, ranging from Mascha and her friends’ playful initiatives to an icy battle against riot police in the snow-covered city center. The result is a powerful close-up report on the Ukrainian uprising.