Screening of a Ukrainian Documentary “Slovo” House”

The film «Slovo»House» tells the story of one of the greatest crimes of the Soviet regime against Ukraine – the destruction of a powerful artistic movement that emerged in the 1920s and 1930s in Kharkiv. The intellectuals were specially gathered under one roof in the House of Writers "Slovo" («word» in Ukrainian) in Kharkiv. In the 66 apartments of the building, the most prominent figures of Ukrainian culture lived – writers, poets, artists, and directors. These intellectuals, brought together in one place, were repressed, shot, or forced to become supporters of the party over several years. This is the story of artists and how their paradise turns into hell when the system breaks a creator.

The film is not just a story about the past but also a reminder of the modern threats to freedom of speech, creativity, and national identity.

The film won "Best Documentary of the Year" at the 2018 Golden Dzyga National Ukraine Film Awards. The movie's Ambassador is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc. She says about the film:

“I see it as more than just a film – it is an echo from the past, a warning about what happens when a society loses freedom of speech. It is a warning to governments: do not use artists as mouthpieces for lies and propaganda, do not force them to become tools of the regime. This film carries a message that resonates with everyone who has ever faced repression or oppression of speech.”

This screening is a part of the Fresh Production Group film company’s international initiative “Remember the past – fight for the future”. It is a global initiative to protect Ukrainian culture, which is based on international series of meetings with international communities and students that uses films as a tool of resistance. This international project is aimed at drawing global attention to Russia’s centuries-long systematic destruction of Ukrainian culture. Its goal is to highlight the historical lessons of the past to prevent the recurrence of repression and oppression in the future.

To protect culture means to strengthen our resilience in war and preserve national identity in the face of humanitarian aggression.

The documentary will be in English

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