Ukrainian Movies

It's strange that Ukraine is in the headlines daily. In my childhood, no one had ever heard of Ukraine and we'd never have seen anything on TV, or even had a glimpse of a Ukrainian flag in the media. Not until the wall fell and Oksana Baiul hit the Olympics with a bang, winning gold in the winter olympics in figure skating. To see the Ukrainian flag rise up the pole and hear Sche ne vmerla Ukraina was astounding. We all bawled our eyes out. 

And with that invisibility of Ukraine, I'd never heard anything about any Ukrainian movies so I was happy to come across an article about the five best Ukrainian movies. Here are the five I will attempt to watch, all available on YouTube:

• My Thoughts Are Silent / Мої думки тихі  (2019)
• The Guide  (2016 Capital Ukrainian Festival)
• Feathered Dreams / Легкая, как перышко (2012)
• Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)
• Man With a Movie Camera / Человек с Аппаратом (1929)

Russians can be nice

I have never been prejudiced that I know of. I have always treated individuals with respect, regardless of what they looked like or what stereotype they fit into. At least I believe I have.

Ukrainian Easter in Ireland

I've lived in Ireland since 2008, and I have not hosted a traditional Easter lunch until this year. I learned that the Catholic Church in Westport was going to do a blessing of the baskets at 2:30 pm on Easter Saturday and I thought this would be a good year to invite friends over to help us celebrate and to introduce them to the traditions I grew up with. I didn't know then how events would unfold.

Alex's paska ready for the oven.

Religion in Ukraine

Byzantine Rite Catholic is Orthodox, isn't it?

I have had to answer this question more times than I can count. Now, living in a very Roman Catholic country, I find it's even more curious that very few people have even heard of Byzantine Catholic. I mean Catholic is Catholic, isn't it. Not quite.

Ukraine isn't dead yet!

The Prophetic Ukrainian National Anthem: Shche ne vmerla Ukraina! 

Plast group Nezabudky performing traditional Ukrainian songs in Philadelphia circa 1970

The count is in from Crimea and not surprisingly the vote is 96% in favor of Crimea joining Russia. Of course there were only two choices on the ballot: 1) join Russia 2) have greater independence from Ukraine. And of course, the Ukrainians and Tatars boycotted the vote and the troops stationed there were not allowed to vote. So who voted? The Russians. Of course, they would vote in favor. I wouldn't be surprised if they also got paid for showing up at the polls.

Russian and Ukrainian are the same language, aren't they?

The politics of language and culture

My sister, Oksana, at Plast camp in NY - a typical Ukrainian American

When I was growing up in America, we did not yet have a television but we did manage to get a phone with a party line. Those old enough to remember will understand this strange phenomenon of sharing phone lines with neighbors and being able to listen in on their conversations. Except it didn't do us much good as we didn't understand a word of English.

Tensions escalating around Ukraine

Fear creeping in...along with the hope that there are still options. 

Our family aboard the USS Constitution setting sail for America.

Some of you who read my first entry in this blog mentioned that there was an anti-immigrant sentiment when you arrived in America. It caused us to congregate together in a support structure that allowed the children to flourish, slowly integrate and change the perceptions of those around us. It took a bit of effort, and often we did the melting pot thing and became American to the world. But inside, we never gave up that feeling of being different and connected by a common bond wherever we chose to reside.  We never gave up hope that the promised land would offer new options. 

Being Ukrainian in the Diaspora

A foreigner in my home land

Ukrainian-American family at home in 1958. I'm the baby. 

by Daria Blackwell

I grew up Ukrainian in America.  My parents were immigrants from this Eastern European country with a rich culture and tumultuous history.  They left their country unwillingly when the Bolshevik and German fronts collided on their doorstep during WWII.  They were among the millions of displaced persons leaving a land they loved for the unknown but promised potential of life in a more peaceful world. More on that later.