Festivals/Awards:
2015 / Krakow Film Festival: Silver Hobby-Horse for the Director of the Best Documentary Film
2015 / Odessa International Film Festival: FIPRESCI prize for a feature-length film
Director's Bio-Filmography:
Conferenţiar universitar la Universitatea din Varşovia, Krzysztof Kopczynski deţine şi administrează compania Eureka Media Production Company. Este membru al Academiei Europene de Film şi al Academiei Poloneze de Film. A câştigat 22 de premii pentru filme. Documentarul său anterior, Stone Silence a fost proiectat în 40 de ţări. A produs 150 opere audiovizuale, inclusiv 50 documentare expuse în cel puţin 70 de ţări şi a câştigat aproximativ 140 de premii.
Director's / Curator's Statement:
„Breslov and Uman – cities of historical significance for Ukrainians and Jews alike, enliven towards autumn when Hasidim flock there. In 2013, about 30,000 Hasidim Jews came from over 40 countries. They celebrated Rosh Hashanah at Tzadik Nachman’s grave. The majority of these Jews are drawn here by religion, but a good number of them come with hidden intentions. As it is, they bring in lots of money and consequently enjoy mafia protection.
The film mainly touches on the issue of civil rights among the citizens of Breslov and Uman and human rights for Hasidim. It is understood that the local Ukrainians want to build monuments for their former guerrilla leaders responsible for the massacre of thousands of Jews. They also wish to repossess land unfairly distributed to Hasidim and to see the local synagogue (the world’s largest) immediately registered. On the other hand, the Hasidim claim that their ancestral inheritance and human rights are at risk. They want to enjoy the right to worship and the right to visit places of historical and religious significance. Through this film, I intend to deliver the message of civil and human rights from a point of view of Vladimir. Born in 1939 near Breslov, he is former major in the Soviet army. Deployed to oversee the building of the Berlin Wall. He has been the caretaker of the Jewish cemetery in Breslov for 20 years now. His house stands on a former Turkish fortress – right above the cellar where Nachman dictated his book to Nathan, his disciple. In 2012, Vladimir and his wife will celebrate their 50thanniversary.Vladimir is a moderate drinker although he makes moonshine. He does not attend church. Has a good sense of humour and possesses a rare ability to express his thoughts. He personally knows about a third of Breslov Hasidim. His life dream is to visit California where he has already been invited by a prominent American Jew as a token of appreciation for taking care of his great grandfather’s grave.The world presented in the film is one I imagine as a world of contrasts and elements unbefitting each other. I will relate this world through film and with minimum wording. The closest model will be that of an observational documentary. RebbeNachman’s story is presented parallel to the main axis’ structural effect. I do not foresee the role of a creator but rather an observer and a discoverer.“ (Krzysztof Kopczynski)