Film on Ukrainian famine debuts on eve of referendum (12/08/91)

Film on Ukrainian famine debuts on eve of referendum

KIEV - "This film is my personal contribution to the Ukrainian independence referendum," said Kiev filmmaker Oles Yanchuk, whose new film, titled "Holod '33," debuted on republic-wide television on Saturday evening, November 30, just hours prior to the opening of the polls for the December 1 historic referendum.

"I wanted people to see what life was like in a colony, the inhabitants of which were mercilessly exploited in the name of a utopian ideology," Mr. Yanchuk told The New York Times.

This, his first feature film, tells the story of Stalin's forced collectivization which led to the death of more than 7 million Ukrainian citizens in central and eastern Ukraine.

Only in the past two years has this tragic page in Ukraine's history been told to its citizens.

"Holod '33" was awarded first prize at the Kiev Film Festival held in mid-November; Mr. Yanchuk is scheduled to travel to North America in late December, where his film will make its North American debut.

During a recent telephone conversation, he reported that it was scheduled to premiere at movie theaters in Kiev on Wednesday, December 4.

"Working on the film was an emotionally wrenching experience for Mr. Yanchuk and his crew,'' The New York Times reported. "The film was shot in regions that had experienced the famine in the 1930's. Harrowing scenes from the film recreate the terror, fear and desperation of those years."