Le courage des Dix-sept – L’histoire du Chœur ukrainien de bandouristes
Хоробра Сімнадцятка – з Життя Української Капели Бандуристів
Music of Survival – The Story of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus
Paris Screening was held Saturday May 26, 2018 7:30pm at

Катедра Св. Володимира Великого в Парижі
Cathédrale Saint Volodymyr à Paris
186 boulevard Saint Germain 75006

A very special thank you to Bishop Borys Gudziak, Ségolène Mykolenko and the Paris Eparchial House family their generous warmth and gracious hospitality in hosting such a heartfelt screening of the film!

Дорогі клівлендчани! ЗАПРОШУЄМО!

В суботу 24 березня, о 18:00 годині, був показ фільму ХОРОБРА СІМНАДЦЯТКА (українською мовою) – документальний фільм про унікальних бандуристів які витримали страшні 30 роки в Україні, вижили лихоліття війни в Німеччині, та емігрували до США у 1949-му році з таборів для біженців у Німеччині. Сьогоднішня Українська Капеля Бандуристів ім. Т. Шевченка продовжує їхню місію завдяки цієї хороброї сімнадцятки.

As part of the platform of education and advocacy being created with this story, and in a pilot launch of the program, a copy of the film was gifted to the Ukrainian school graduating class of St Volodymyr’s Cathedral in Parma, Ohio.

The eventual goal of this program of education and advocacy is to have a copy of the film gifted to every graduating Ukrainian school student of every Ridna Shkola system in both Canada and the US, each graduating year – in perpetuity.

“Music of Survival is a testament to the enduring power of art and the human spirit, even in the face of the greatest of horrors. Its music uplifts, informs and indeed transforms the spirit and the mind, shedding much needed light on a story of cultural survival that resonates even more deeply today.” Jesse Wente, Director of Film Programmes, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto, Canada

“An extraordinary story that I am grateful to be a part of … a story very dear to my heart; the idea of what’s going on now in Ukraine needs attention – and sometimes it needs attention that’s indirect, that makes us think in deeper ways and look at our history – our shared history as Canadians. It gives me an enormous amount of pleasure, and not a little pride, to be a part of it.” Colm Feore, Narrator

“The film traces the history of the Ukrainian bardic tradition which uses a special zither-like instrument called the bandura. It was powerfully moving, beautifully filmed, and certainly one of the best music-themed documentaries I’ve ever seen–right up there with “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Genghis Blues,” David Badagnani, Ethnomusicologist

“Music of Survival weaves together a visually rich narrative with compelling interviews and an emotionally taut soundtrack that brings out the deepest roots of our traditions and the very best in our Ukrainian national character. Through music, it celebrates the resiliency of a culture that has survived centuries of political repression and genocide.” Oles Kuzma, Hartford CT

“…Very moving – an amazing story. When one has lived a complacent middle-class life in Canada, where nationalism, political crisis and warfare are pale echoes of some unimaginable past, it’s quite easy to forget the immediacy and the ‘life-and-deathness’ of cultural histories. This film brings that reality painfully alive. It’s a story well-told, and well worth telling. The music seems to have a kind of essential lament at its core, and is woven organically into the narrative and honestly serves the story-telling.  It’s rather haunting in a mystical way. While it’s true that a general audience might be unfamiliar with this music, to my mind it’s not in any way alienating, and speaks to the ‘otherness’ of the Ukrainian culture, and to the deep emotion at the heart of that culture.” Jonathan Goldsmith, Composer

“It was really a fantastic evening! I enjoyed every single moment of it. As for the film Music of Survival – it’s like a cultural bridge connecting three peoples and two continents. The whole story proves time and again that only united we will survive and overcome all difficulties, only together, shoulder to shoulder we can preserve our rich culture for future generations. More and more people should see this film. “ Oksana Kobets, Ukrainian Consulate, Düsseldorf, Germany

“During the screening, a pin dropping could have been heard. The attention level was at a maximum, everyone was taken in by the story, the music, the tragedy of war and were hanging in there hoping for a happy ending. When the film finished there was a spontaneous outburst of applause. Then no one got up, everyone remained seated till the very end when the screen went blank and again applauded.” Vera Kostiuk Busch – Düsseldorf, Germany

“Я – від нього у захопленні! Глибоко змістовний.Несе саме ту правду, яку сьогодні далеко не всі знають. Ще одне свідчення про невмирущу глибину Української Духовності , Сили та Нездоланності !  І знання про яку інколи у суспільстві  не вистачає… Я також дізнався багато нового ! Перебуваю у захопленні від професійної майстерності. Щиро бажаю успішної премєри в Україні. Не маю жодних сумнівів – вона має бути дуже успішною ! З найщирішими вітаннями та побажаннями, З глибокою повагою” Ihor Sagach – Ambassador of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Sweden Надзвичайний Повноважаний Посол Ігор Сагач – Посол України в Швеції

A long-term initiative is underway to distribute the film to the Ukrainian School systems across the North American diaspora.

Platform of Education and Advocacy:
This key mandate involves building a platform of understanding of Ukrainian culture and history worldwide. In conjunction with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus, we have been developing an educational programme here in North America that involves gifting every student of every graduating class in every Ukrainian School system in both the Unites States and Canada a copy of the film, every graduating year – in perpetuity.

The DVD was recently presented to the Yonkers, NY Ridna Shkola as well as both Ukrainian Schools in New York City in December 2016.

We will be launching the official pilot in Cleveland at two Ukrainian schools March 24, 2018 (film screening and presentation). 

If you are interested in sharing this story with your local community, and interested in including your school in this growing network, please contact: musicofsurvival@gmail.com

http://bandura.org