ОЛЕКСАНДР ДОВЖЕНКО | Розкажи Історію | Трембовецький, Даша Кубік, Міщеряков, Остріков @tochkazboru

Summary

The video script is about notable Ukrainian film director and writer Oleksandr Dovzhenko. It chronicles his journey starting with his childhood, participating in Ukraine's independence movement, fleeing to other countries, and finally his prolific filmmaking career back in Soviet Ukraine. His films like Earth and Arsenal are considered masterpieces, featuring stunning cinematography and philosophical themes exploring man's connection with nature. Despite restrictions, he managed to infuse artistry and subtleties about Ukraine's culture and history. His contributions had tremendous influence, with Charlie Chaplin recognizing him as the only Ukrainian to profoundly impact world cinema.

Takeaways

• 😃 Dovzhenko was a pioneering Ukrainian filmmaker who revolutionized cinema.
• 🎥 His films like Earth and Arsenal were groundbreaking and influential worldwide.
• 🎞️ He introduced new cinematic techniques like poetic montage and long takes of nature.
• 🌾 His films explored the connection between humans and nature, and glorified the Ukrainian peasantry.
• 🎬 Stalin recognized Dovzhenko's talent and gave him relative artistic freedom, despite censorship.
• 🇺🇦 He always strived to highlight the beauty and struggle of the Ukrainian people and land.
• 💔 Although honored, Dovzhenko felt restricted and longed to make films freely in Ukraine.
• 🌄 His masterpiece Earth used stunning photography and symbolism to show collectivization.
• 🎞️ He transitioned from painter to screenwriter to pioneering film director.
• 🗣️ Dovzhenko's work left an indelible mark on Ukrainian and worldwide cinema.

Q & A

What inspired Dovzhenko to get into filmmaking?

Dovzhenko was inspired to pursue filmmaking after being exposed to modern European cinema and art while working at embassies abroad. He studied art and felt he could become a good artist in 10-15 years, but was drawn more to the creative possibilities of film.

What was unique about Dovzhenko's film Earth?

Earth departed from the predominant Social Realism style, instead using symbolism and long takes of nature to poetically explore the relationship between humans and the land. Things like apples and wheat represented homeland and spirituality for Dovzhenko.

How did Dovzhenko manage to subtly insert Ukrainian ideas into his state-commissioned films?

Despite constraints, Dovzhenko cleverly layered in questions about Ukrainian identity that caused viewers to become more curious about history and groups like the UNR. He balanced propaganda demands with artistic innovation.

What did Dovzhenko see as the core human problem regarding nature?

Dovzhenko felt humans had become detached from nature over time. Losing this core unity with the natural world was the root of turbulence and problems for humanity in his view.

What prevented Dovzhenko from filming more during World War II?

The Soviet authorities largely refused Dovzhenko requests to film during the war. He ended up serving as a war journalist to witness events, but was unable to fully document the impact of the war on Ukraine until years later.

How did Dovzhenko's wartime experiences impact his view of Ukraine?

Seeing the damage done to historic Ukrainian landscapes for Soviet industrial projects helped Dovzhenko recognize why Western Ukrainians might resent Soviet rule. He wished to showcase the truth of Ukraine's suffering.

What quote showed Dovzhenko's wish to be buried in Ukraine?

12 years before his death, Dovzhenko wrote 'I will die in Moscow, having not seen Ukraine. Before death I will ask Stalin to remove my heart from my chest at the crematorium and bury it in native soil in Kyiv above the Dnipro.'

How did Dovzhenko characterize differences between Russians and Ukrainians?

Dovzhenko highlighted Ukrainians as noble, tidy, and humane in historical tradition unlike Russians who he saw as characterized by dirtiness, foul language, and disrespect for elders in contrast.

What film techniques did Dovzhenko pioneer?

Dovzhenko helped develop Soviet montage theories and introduced new long takes of nature and peasants. He helped make Ukrainian poetic cinema celebrated for its lyricism and rich symbolism.

Why is watching Dovzhenko's films themselves so important?

More than just learning his biography, Dovzhenko's creative genius and ideas come through most authentically in experiencing his cinematic poetry directly through films like Earth, Arsenal, and Ivanna.