Mothers abandoning their children
I had the pleasure of attending the 39th International Molodist Film Festival in Kyiv October 2009 as a member of the Ecumenical Jury. It turned out to be five days of exciting films and discussions, but we could not ignore the serious social issues dealt with by many of the films: The fact that more and more young women are unable to take care of their own children, especially in the post communist Central and Eastern Europe, but actually in some Western European countries as well. We got used to the fact that some men act irresponsibly – in film as well as in reality –; now, films are describing women as unable to cope with their situation and their children, and remember, film is an art that cannot help but reflect reality.
The Ecumenical Jury focusses on films in a certain way. Our jury is looking for artistic merit as well as religious, social and human interest. Themes like justice, peace, human respect and spiritual life are important to us. We recognize themes of suffering and darkness in human existence, but we cannot help but look for elements of hope as well.
Molodist means ‘young’, and this again means that this particular film festival concerns itself with young filmmakers and debutants. Experience told us that a jury should not have too many films to deal with, so it was agreed that this time we should concern ourselves ‘only’ with the feature films in competition, about four films each day.
The feature films in competition represented a wide range of nationalities – e.g. Canada, Georgia, Taiwan, Ukraine, etc. As a Dane, I of course noticed that the festival had a Danish participant too: The first feature by Danish director Morten Giese “Vanvittig forelsket”, internationally entitled “Love and Rage”, which received the audience award of the festival. The prize was accepted by the young actress Sara Hjort.
Among the competition films the Italian-Austrian film “La Pivellina” was outstanding, directed by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel. Covi and Frimmel are actually experienced photographers ad documentary filmmakers, but this is their first fiction film.
As the Ecumenical Jury awarded our main prize to “La Pivellina”, we argued the following way:
”The Ecumenical Jury wants to give its price to a film about a two years abandoned child who, like Moses in the basket, is found and cared for by an old circus princess. In a artistically convincing, improvising and documentary style the film shows people on the border of society, who give shelter to a stranger by bringing warmth and happiness into hers and their own lives.”
The international jury of the festival shared our high regard for “La Pivellina” and awarded its Grand Prix to this film.
The Ecumenical jury further more awarded a special mention and recommendation to the Russian film ”Volchok” (Wolfy), directed by Vasiliy Sigaryov, because of the original and moving way the story was told.
“La Pivellina” and “Wolfy” tell stories of women abandoning their children, physically or mentally. The films show us societies where women are marginalized and unable financially or emotionally to take care of their own children. The films don’t convey much hope, “La Pivellina” however has a glimpse of hope for the future of humanity.
In conclusion, I consider the International Film Festival Molodist to be an important platform for young cinema, reflecting new tendencies in feature films and short films. It is a festival that I enjoyed taking part in.