03 September 16 In Bobroby Kut Srcond Edition
How the idea for the 2nd edition came about. After the film was edited and translated into Hebrew and English, I happened to find another eyewitness to those events — I don’t even remember exactly how anymore. Remarkably, he turned out to be a resident of my home city, Kharkiv. He had worked at the Kharkiv Aircraft Plant his entire life and was highly regarded there. He shared the story of how some residents of the village of Bobrovyi Kut actually managed to escape from the advancing German army.
Unfortunately, neither he nor the eyewitnesses who were in the village at the time of filming are still with us. But their testimonies of those horrific events will remain for ages.
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
The SINT 50
Founded in 1963 by Gary Kertser, the SINT Theater (Student Engineering Theater) became a powerhouse of talent, launching the careers of numerous renowned actors and directors. Despite winning top honors at the World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow, the theater faced constant pressure from Soviet censorship. A defining moment in its history was the production of Mayakovsky’s The Bathhouse. During a mandatory screening, Communist Party officials demanded the original script, certain that the provocative lines were added by the theater. Although not a single word had been changed, the authorities banned the play anyway. This film is a tribute to half a century of creative defianc.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
07 – Additional description for the film “The Sniper”
This story happened during filming. I asked the servicemen where the latrine was. Everyone looked at me like I was insane — as if to say, “What kind of toilet do you expect in a temporary tent camp on the front line?” Someone said: “Just piss right here.” Sorry, but you can’t throw the words out of the song. I mounted the camera on the tripod and started the process. Suddenly “Ptakh” (his callsign) runs out — he was a beloved officer who actually organized our concert brigade’s trip to their position. He says to me, “What are you doing?” I reply, “Can’t you see?” He snaps back: “Look over there. That’s the bell tower where the sniper used to target us from. We took him out recently, but they might send a new one.” I laughed and said: “If I were in his shoes, I’d know exactly where to aim.”
= = = =
= = = = =
10 – Aydar – Additional description
There is an episode in this film where we perform for air defense soldiers. I went on stage having been aged 10 years by my colleagues to perform before the troops. We recalled that Air Defense Day falls on the second Sunday of April. The commander then admitted that he had only just been born when I was serving in those same forces. It happened near Mariupol. What has happened to them now?
I have a story about my birthday, which in 1979 coincided with Air Defense Day. But more on that later.