Revamped Classic of Ukrainian Cinema Returns

On May 29, a new version of the legendary film "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" by Sergei Parajanov hits theaters. This film is considered the beginning of the era of Ukrainian poetic cinema.

The news was announced by the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio.

"This is not just a movie; it is a work of art that transformed our cultural landscape. A film recognized globally as a visual marvel. A true treasure of our film studio, now restored and ready for a new audience", – stated the film studio.

The distributor of the film is "Kinomania Film Distribution".

The film "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" is an adaptation of the novella by Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky, filmed in 1964 at the Dovzhenko film studio.

The story narrates the love between Ivan Palijchuk and Marichka Hutenyuk, whose families have been enemies for decades. It is a tale reminiscent of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, set against the picturesque backdrop of Hutsul region.

Ivan Palijchuk is portrayed by Ivan Mykolaychuk, who later became a renowned actor and director. Initially, Parajanov doubted Mykolaychuk's fit for the lyrical hero, but later changed his mind. Marichka Hutenyuk is played by Larysa Kadocnikova.

The film "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" won 39 international awards, including 28 festival prizes, of which 24 were grand prizes in 21 countries.

Ukrainian literary critic Ivan Dziuba remarked on the release of Ukrainian cinema from Soviet constraints:

"How can I not mention what "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" meant to my generation? It was not merely a celebration of Ukrainian art; it was a celebration of the Ukrainian soul, affirming that Ukraine could stand as an aesthetic and spiritual force in the world."

Dziuba emphasized that "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" became a benchmark for an entire generation of Ukrainian filmmakers, from Yuri Illienko to Boris Ivchenko, laying the groundwork for what would be called Ukrainian poetic cinema.

Sergei Parajanov is one of the most influential Ukrainian directors of the 20th century.

In 1973, he was sentenced to 5 years in a labor camp for homosexuality, although many understood that the true reason was his support of dissidents. The National Rehabilitation Commission reinstated his name on the occasion of the artist's birthday.

His film "The Color of Pomegranates" also made a return to Ukrainian theaters, restored by Martin Scorsese, one of the director's biggest supporters.