Chicago filmmaker to walk 5,000 kilometers from Madrid to Kyiv (02/19/06)

Chicago filmmaker to walk 5,000 kilometers from Madrid to Kyiv

by Anya Antonovych

CHICAGO - The Young Friends of the Institute are excited to hold a send-off party on Thursday, February 23, at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art here to raise interest in an upcoming project of 23-year-old Chicago filmmaker Lee Kazimir.

On February 28 Mr. Kazimir will fly to Madrid. From Madrid he will walk approximately 5,000 kilometers to Kyiv, via Paris, Berlin and Warsaw. During the trek, which he estimates will last from six to seven months, he will film whatever catches his eye, interview people he meets and write about his experiences. Upon returning to Chicago, he will edit the footage and writings into a feature-length film to be called "More Shoes."

In a recent interview, the young filmmaker said that the idea for the film has been lodged in his mind for some time now. While hiking in the Pyrenees several years ago, his companion misquoted Werner Herzog to him, saying that one could learn more about filmmaking by walking a great distance - for example, from Paris to Rome - than from attending film school. This registered with Mr. Kazimir.

He was greatly dismayed, then, while reading "Herzog on Herzog," a compilation of interviews with the filmmaker edited by Paul Cronin, to discover that the arbitrary trek to which Mr. Herzog referred was from Madrid to Kyiv. Madrid to Kyiv seemed impossible.

What Mr. Herzog said is this: Instead of school, you should make a journey of approximately 5,000 kilometers, alone, on foot, "let's say from Madrid to Kyiv. While you are walking, you would learn much more about filmmaking and what it truly involves than you ever would in a classroom. Your experiences would be the very opposite of academic knowledge, for academia is the death of cinema."

Mr. Herzog has been making films for over 40 years. An independent filmmaker before the term was invented, Mr. Herzog produced his first film at the age of 19. Epic in scope, his films include "Aguirre, The Wrath of God," "Fata Morgana" and, most recently, last year's critically acclaimed documentary "Grizzly Man." Mr. Herzog has also published about a dozen books of prose and has directed a similar number of operas.

Unable to shake himself of the idea, Mr. Kazimir wrote to Mr. Herzog. Mr. Herzog responded, and counseled him: "Start your walking slowly the first week. You will settle in naturally. Do not circle around your own navel, the world out there is the center. Keep your eyes open for the tiny things as well."

Mr. Kazimir studied anthropology at University College London, where he also began writing and directing theater and video. His plays have been performed in both London and Chicago, and his video "Three True Stories" was included in the Raindance Festival in London.

With only a few weeks left before departure, Mr. Kazimir is training daily. Also in preparation for his journey, he has visited local cultural institutions to learn more about the countries he will travel through. At the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, he met Karin Patzke, chairperson of the Young Friends of the Institute.

The Young Friends enthusiastically agreed to help publicize the project by sponsoring a send-off party. They also plan to hold a progress report during Mr. Kazimir's trek, possibly showing some raw footage of his journey. Mr. Kazimir, who is of Polish ancestry, said he is especially pleased to have the support of a Ukrainian organization, as his grandfather was born in Kyiv.

Funding for this ambitious project is as unusual as the project itself. In a drive called "Fellow Travelers," Mr. Kazimir is asking 1,000 people to donate $20 each. In return, they will receive a postcard from somewhere along the route and will be listed in the film credits. To donate, or to find out more about "More Shoes," readers may log on to www.madridtokiev.com.

Mr. Kazimir will speak about the project and screen a trailer for the film at 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 23, at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave., 773-227-5522. Refreshments will be served. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information visit www.uima-org.

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