Maidan (2014) Online

the last reviewer somewhat misses the point - history happens in real time and not in film time. Therefore, a brave documentary film maker who has come along with an honest and thoughtful film of the gradual events that took place in Kiev should be applauded for NOT rushing to over edit and make the events fit the way that . This is a smouldering view of history that leads the viewer across the optimism of political protest through to the blunting of a crushed national moment. The singing and re-singing of the national anthem is caught beautifully and helps explain the motivation and passion of the protesters. Ultimately, the power of this film is that it shows what a revolution or at least attempted revolution looks like from the inside. We do not have this for 1789 or 1917 but we have a bit of it now for Kiev.

The professional reviewers find a lot of nice things to say about Maidan. What they don't tell you is how dull it is to watch. I went hoping to learn more about a contentious and important historic event and learnt only that its possible to make a film in which the makers don't edit out the bits where people wander into shot with their backs turned to the camera. I went with someone not knowledgeable about the events and they were bored and irritated by the absence of context. On the upside, i may now know the words to the ukrainian national anthem, which we are treated to no less than 3 times in full. Sorry. Maidan is a lost opportunity to this ordinary viewer's eyes.

Ukrainian film editor, cinematographer and documentary filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa's documentary feature which he co-produced, is inspired by real events which took place in Kiev, Ukraine in 2013- 2014. It premiered in the Out of competition Special Screenings section at the 67th Cannes International Film Festival in 2014, was shot on locations in Ukraine and is a Ukraine-The Netherlands co- production which was produced by producer Maria Choustova-Baker. It tells the story about ninety days of autonomous revolution against lawlessness in the state of Ukraine.

Distinctly and subtly directed by Ukrainian filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, this quietly paced documentary which is narrated from multiple viewpoints, draws a communicatively informative portrayal of Ukrainian citizens whom after learning that their president didn't sign an Association Agreement with Europe in Vilnius, Lithuania, occupied Independence Square and founded an anti-criminal movement aiming to establish justice and rule of law. While notable for its distinctly atmospheric milieu depictions and reverent cinematography by cinematographers Sergei Loznitsa, Serhiy Stetsenko and Mykhailo Yelchev, this narrative-driven story reflects upon the identity of a nation, a ten letter word starting with s and ending with y and a seven letter word starting with d and ending with y which is integrated in the voices of the people and the reflective frames of the filmmaker.

This presently historic authentication which is set in Ukraine in the 21st century and where girls, boys, women and men reclaim what is lawfully for them to reclaim, is impelled and reinforced by its cogent narrative structure, subtle continuity, the words of a Ukrainian actress named Aga Rogovtseva and the comment by a human being working for a little bit of common decency for her Cossack nation: "I've come straight from the barricades, you see." A considerately recorded and regarded documentary feature.

The Maidan is the most significant development in recent Ukrainian political history. A popular uprising overthrew a pro-Soviet dictator and promised democratic change. So a film of the same name, premiering at Cannes, arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival with much anticipation. Unfortunately, Maidan the film is a big disappointment: - the director provides no introductory perspective about the issue, the history of Ukrainian-Russian relations, nor the Orange Revolution; - the director's camera work takes long panning shots of the Maidan, again without any context or explanation; - the only comments in the first hour of the film consist of rhetorical speeches delivered in the square, without any attribution; The absence of any commentary leaves gaping holes in what should be a compelling story. The Maidan uprising is known to include fascist elements, Tymeshenko veterans, and a wide variety of extremists. None of these elements are explained in the film. Instead, what we get is running commentaries about volunteer assignments, cooks and activities of daily living. I went to see the Maidan to learn more about this historic event, and sadly, I came away knowing no more than I did before seeing the film. Maidan is not the Ukrainian equivalent of "The Square" and a big disappointment.

The documentary Maidan is a rather unusual film. Camera standing still, showing life, live action and there can be heard conversations amongst the people. This is what one would call minimalistic project.

The music does not get in the way, it is mostly live from the Kiev protests. This film would have gotten 4-5 stars if the ending had not been how it is. A male choral version of an Ukrainian folk song is played over one of the last scenes and that brought tears to my eyes.

The story of Maidan is a story that will be told over and over again because this matter will never be solved. There will always be struggle around the world because of the greed for power.

This is a film that is good for you to watch, just to realize how the power of politics can ruin nations and also make them stronger.

Much of the raw emotion of Ukraine's revolution of dignity is reflected in this work, but the context is lost for lack of details. The result is a moving but disjointed telling "about" rather than "of" the three-month human drama that unfolded on the main square ("maidan") of the capital.

The rich personal panorama includes moving video clips of the people on the barricades as they worked, fought, and lived together in a community they created. In every face in every frame we see joy, sorrow, pain, exhaustion, anger, anguish, and above all hope. That alone will make this film worthwhile for many.

If you already know intimately the experience of Maidan, this film will satisfy. If not, I suggest you view the significantly better documentary "Winter of Fire." If then you want to see and feel even more, check out "Maidan."