MONTREAL – The documentary film “Second Chance” by Montreal filmmaker Adriana Luhovy will have its Vancouver premiere on Sunday, October 23. The public screening is organized by the Ukrainian Studies Foundation of British Columbia and the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, Lesia Ukrainka Branch, of Vancouver.
The documentary tells the touching story of orphan children in Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadian youth volunteering to help make a difference in their lives. Volunteers from across Canada are chosen by Toronto’s Help Us Help The Children (HUHTC), who organize specialized camp programs in the Carpathian Mountains for orphans. University volunteer workers bring their background, skills and training gained over many years attending Ukrainian school and youth organizations in Canada.
“Second Chance” was filmed on site, interviewing the many participants. It closely follows how orphan children slowly gain trust, bond with their counselors and push on with the challenges they face. The documentary interweaves the state of orphanages in Ukraine and raises concerns about the future of orphans once they are released.
“Second Chance” opens a discussion of Ukraine’s social fabric and the lack of concern for underprivileged elements of society, especially before the fall of USSR.
The film captures the impact of volunteerism, and its importance to a community’s ongoing success.
The film is in English with Ukrainian heard throughout the film. Subtitles are used to keep the feel and authenticity of the language spoken between the Ukrainian Canadian volunteers and the orphan children.
Ms. Luhovy noted, “This was a difficult film to make emotionally, to hear the stories of unwanted children and the many obstacles they had to overcome in their personal lives. It took time to gain their confidence and trust to share their experiences. Hopefully, I captured their resilience and determination for a better tomorrow.”
The documentary was made possible with the assistance of Sylvie Monette, The Ukrainian Studies Foundation of British Columbia, The Shevchenko Foundation, Caisse Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montreal, Ukrainian National Federation – Montreal branch, MML Inc. and others.
“Second Chance” is Ms. Luhovy’s first documentary film release. She is a graduate of communications studies at Montreal’s Concordia University and of Vancouver Film School; she has worked for New York’s Advancing Human Rights and has volunteered for many years in Ukraine, working closely with HUHTC and orphan children.
The film will be shown in Vancouver at Holy Trinity Auditorium, 154 E. 10th Ave. Admission is by donation; light refreshments will be served.
For future showings of the documentary “Second Chance” readers may contact [email protected] or visit www.adrianaluhovy.com.