On February 26, a special closed premiere of the documentary film Slava Ukraini (“Glory to Ukraine’) by the French filmmaker, philosopher, writer and playwright Bernard-Henri Lévy took place in the capital.
The film was shot in the format of a travel journey to hot spots. Film action begins in Kharkiv and ends in Kherson, in the aftermath of the city’s liberation. The final scenes take place in the city of Ochakiv. The documentary filmmaker traveled around Ukraine together with a Ukrainian special operations forces and filmed events in Bakhmut, Lyman, followed the actions of the military near the Zaporizhzhia NPP.
The music for the film was written by Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, the Ukrainian singer and leader of the band Okean Elzy (Elza’s Ocean).
The premiere of the film was attended by the Minister of Culture and Information Policy Oleksandr Tkachenko, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov and the Ukrainian military together with their families.
“We all know about Bernard’s incredible energy, but I am surprised by his courage! The courage of a real Ukrainian! And also that very attentive look that he had during his journey. I am sure that if there were several such Bernards, we would already have Ukrainian F-16s,” said Oleksandr Tkachenko.
The documentary Slava Ukraini is a continuation of the film Why Ukraine. If the first part showed how the russia’s full-scale invasion had begun. This part covers the extraordinary counteroffensive of Ukrainian troops – the liberation of Kharkiv region and Kherson.
“I want to thank all the men and women we met during 12 months of war. We tried with our team to be with you as much as possible. Many are present here now. And I am very glad. We made this film, but you made it, too,” noted Bernard-Henri Lévy.
It is noteworthy that such films are aimed specifically at foreign viewers as another tool of fight.
The premiere of the film took place on February 6 at Balzac cinema in Paris. It was visited by former President of France François Hollande, Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, former Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls, Ambassador of Ukraine to France Vadym Omelchenko, political, cultural and media figures
The film has been screened in French cinemas since February 22. Soon, according to the filmmaker, the film will also be presented in all European countries, and in a few months the film will be screened in the US Congress.
The film is also planned to be released in Ukrainian cinemas.
The filmmaker will direct his personal royalties received from the film’s release to the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French philosopher, writer, political journalist. Co-founder of the New Philosophers group; regularly writes reviews in the weekly Le Point, owns a share in the daily newspaper Liberation. Co-founder of the Agency for Modernization of Ukraine.
He came to Ukraine in 2014, where he called the crowds on Independence Square in support of Euromaidan demands. During his speech, he declared: “I am a French citizen, I am a European federalist, but today I am on the Maidan, which reminded Europe of its primary vocations, I am also a Ukrainian.”
