
Heat Singers
Director | Nadia Parfan |
Producer | Illia Gladshtein – Phalanstery Films |
Writer | Nadia Parfan |
Camera | Dmytro Burko , Vasyl Goshovsky |
Editor | Mykola Bazarkin |
Music | Margaryta Kulichova |
Original Title | SPIVAYE IVANO-FRANKIVSKTEPLOKOMUNERGO |
Year | 2019 |
Length | 63 min |
Country | Ukraine |
Subtitles | English |
Section | DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES CINEMA AS CULTURAL MEMORY |
A charming, humorous, yet serious documentary that balances patriotism and the harsh reality of working-class men in Ukraine today. This delightful film full of music focuses on a central heating system as a symbol of modern Ukraine, and is an internationally successful work by young exciting female voice of talented Nadia Parfan.
The film will be introduced by Ukrainian/Dutch choir conductor Nataliya Malhanova.
Synopsis
TeploKomunEnergo is a municipal heating company in a provincial Ukrainian town. Most of its workers are as old as the company and for five days per week they deal with bursting radiators, flooded basements and angry clients. Except for Wednesdays, when their lives are put on hold at 3pm for the love for music. Ivan Vasyliovych has long been the trade union leader at TeploKomunEnergo in Ivano-Frankivsk. His magnum opus is the trade union choir for mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, bookkeepers and other employees, and Ivan is very proud of their creative achievements. Over the course of three years, Nadia Parfan skilfully observed how working-class culture and human warmth can serve as a survival mechanism in times of great transition. ‘Heat Singers’ explores how outdated social structures which no longer fit into the modern economy, continue, paradoxically, to function.