On Black Ice
| On Black Deforestation Fields | |
|---|---|
| На чорных лядах | |
| Directed by | Valery Ponomaryov |
| Written by | Vasil Bykau, Valery Ponomaryov |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 67 minutes |
| Country | Belarus |
| Language | Belarusian |
On Black Deforestation Fields[1] (Belarusian: На чорных лядах) is a Belarusian drama film based on two short stories by Vasil Bykau, On Black Deforestation Fields (Belarusian: На чорных лядах) and Before the End (Belarusian: Перад канцом).[2]
Plot
[edit]A group of Belarusian anti-Soviet insurgents from the failed Slutsk Defence Action wanders through forests, fleeing from the surrounding Bolshevik army. To escape captivity or death in battle with a subsequent identification of their bodies and retaliation against their families, the insurgents decide to commit group suicide in a place hidden from the Bolsheviks. Only the youngest of the insurgents is left to bury the others' bodies and live on.
Production and distribution
[edit]The premiere of the movie was scheduled for soon after the controversial referendum held by the authoritarian pro-Russian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka,[3] but never took place as the only copy of the film had allegedly been stolen before the event. The copy was later found again.[4]
According to media, the film was banned by Lukashenka's chief ideologist of that time, Vladimir Zametalin.[4] Valery Ponomaryov, the film's director, was banned from further work in the film industry. The movie has been distributed illegally through VHS and DVD in Belarus and abroad.[3]
On Black Ice was allegedly invited to participate in several international film festivals but Belarusfilm as the official right holder did not respond to the invitations.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Vasil Bykau - Belarusian writer who challenged Soviet abuses by Arnold McMillin, the Guardian, 25 July 2003
- ^ Kino-teatr.ru
- ^ a b c "Аўтару кінастужкі пра Слуцкае паўстанне на "Беларусьфільме" раілі застрэліцца ўслед за ягонымі героямі" [Author of a film about the Slutsk Uprising was advised by Belarusfilm to shoot himself like his movie's heroes did]. Belsat. 2017-01-09.
- ^ a b "Увидит ли зритель фильм "На Чорных лядах"?" [Will the public see On Black Burnt Fields?]. Narodnaja Volia. 2010-06-28. Archived from the original on 2010-07-04.