The Wonderful Years
| Director | Svitlana Shymko/Galina Yarmanova |
| Producer | Ella Shtyka, Olha Reiter – Lviv Film Commission, Indie Lab |
| Editor | Svitlana Shymko |
| Sound | Vladyslav Sirenko, Roman Gomenyuk |
| Screening | Friday 9 November | 17:15 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag Sunday 11 November | 12:30 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag Sunday 11 November | 17:00 hours | Theatar Dakota |
| Original Title | SHCHASLYVI ROKY |
| Year | 2018 |
| Length | 9 min |
| Country | Ukraine |
| Subtitles | English |
| Section | DOCUMENTARIES OPEN DEBATES |
An unique exploration into the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union, based on the archive video materials and interview excerpts.
Synopsis
“The Wonderful Years” is a short documentary film which explores the lives of queer women in Ukraine in the late Soviet Union. It is based on the archive video materials from the Center for Urban History of Central East Europe in Lviv and interview excerpts from the research projects “Sexuality under Globalization” (2005-2006), “Being a Lesbian in Ukraine: Gaining Power” (2007), and “LGBT Families in Ukraine: Social Practices and Legislative Regulations” (2011-2012). Winner of Special Jury Diploma at the Molodist International Film Festival in Kiev for its subtle display of an unknown world.
Director’s bio
Svitlana Shymko is an independent director, a graduate of the DocNomads International MA program in documentary film directing. Her short films were shown and received awards at numerous international film festivals. She is working on developing political, social, and feminist topics in documentary. Filmography: The Wonderful Years (2018), The Fall of Lenin (2017), Lost (2016), The Doctor Leaves Last (2014).
Galina Yarmanova is an independent researcher, graduate of an international MA program in Gender Studies in Central European University in Budapest, Hungary. She teaches courses on gender, sexuality and feminism in Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Her research interests include topics on reproduction and sexual rights, moral panics of sexuality, influence of nationalism and imperialism on current sexual politics in Ukraine. Filmography: The Wonderful Years (2018).