LEKCJA BIAŁORUSKIEGO 46/06 A LESSON OF BELARUSIAN
LEKCJA BIAŁORUSKIEGO 46/06
A LESSON OF BELARUSIAN
screenplay and direction: Mirosław Dembiński
photography: Michał Ślusarczyk, Maciej Szafnicki
editing: Mirosław Dembiński2006 / Betacam / 51 min
After the Soviet Union collapsed, Belarus became an independent country and a
Humanistic Lyceum was founded in Minsk, with the aim of raising an elite
Belarusian intelligentsia. However, in 1995, Lukashenka comes to power.
Democracy and freedom come to an end. Also the Lyceum is labelled a banned
institution. The Lyceum pupils do not give up though, but steadfastly keep
studying in the underground. They are
very intelligent and talented and express their critical attitude to their
situation in many ways, issuing an underground paper and recording music,
attending actively in opposition to Lukashenka.
The
presidential elections, for which Lukashenka changed the constitution in order
to be elected for a third term, become the culminating point of the film.
Despite the fear of repression, thousands of people enter the streets. In the
main square of Minsk, the Lyceum pupils join forces to build a tent city, which
is then brutally pacified by militia. Hundreds of people end up in prison.
However, the Lyceum pupils do not give up, they deeply believe that one day
Belarus will be a free country.
PRIZES:
Award
for the Best East European Documentary at the International Leipzig Festival for
Documentary and Animated Film in Lepizig (Germany) 2006
Jury
Mention at the Media Festival “Man in Danger” in Łódź (Poland) 2006
Award
of Minister of Culture and National Heritage at the Polish-wide Independent
Review of Documentary Film “Nurt 2006” in Kielce (Poland) 2006
Award
of Students Association “Theatre and film friends” at the Polish-wide
Independent Review of Documentary Film “Nurt 2006” in Kielce (Poland) 2006
Award
“The Moviesquad DocU” at the IDFA International Documentary Filmfestival in
Amsterdam (The Netherlands) 2006
The
Václav Havel Special Award
at the
International Human Rights Film Festival “People in need / One
world” in Prague (Czech Republic) 2007
Students’ Award “Next
Generation EU“ at the
International Human Rights Film Festival “People in need / One world” in Prague
(Czech Republic) 2007
Special
Award for the Best Polish Film at the International Days of Documentary Cinema
„Crossroads of Europe” in Lublin (Poland) 2007
Students’ Jury Award at the International Human Rights Film Festival in Paris
(France) 2007
ARTE
Television Special Award at the International Festival for Creative Television
„Prix Visionica” in Wrocław (Poland) 2007
„Melchior” Award for the Year’s Inspiration at the Polish-wide Contest for
Polish Reporters in Zielona Góra (Poland) 2007
Award
of President of the Association of Polish Filmmakers at the Cracow Film Festival
in Cracow (Poland) 2007
The
Best Actor Award for Franek Viacorka (main
character of film) at the International Film Festival KINOLEW in Lvov
(Ukraine) 2007
Audience Award at the International Film Festival „Steps” in Charkow (Ukraine)
2007
Special
Mention of the Jury of the Best documentary at the International Documentary
Film Festival in México City (Mexico) 2007
Special
„Prix Europa” Prize in category TV Documentary at the International Film
Festival „Prix Europa” in Berlin (Germany) 2007
„Prize
of the Festival of Liberties 2007” at the International Film Festival „Festival
des Libertes” in Brussels (Belgium) 2007
OPINIONS:
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
|
LEIPZIG
With the film's
vehement images of demonstrations and diverse civil actions by the young
Belarusian generation, the film-maker teaches all of us a lesson. And the
viewer witnesses more or less bewildered the excesses of a real existing
dictatorship in the heart of Europe. The film is a plea, an outcry, and - at
the same time - a cool-headed analysis of the daily turmoil of political
struggle. Mirosław Dembiński succeeded in aligning cinematic means of the
reportage with those of narrating a political documentary film in a way that
deeply touches the viewer.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
| watch doc’s
Shocking but at the same time excellent, Dembiński’s documentary shows how, faced with disadvantage and repression, young people act. “A Lesson of Belarusian” is worth seeing. I recommend it to everyone, not just people who remember how our country was repressed, but all young people who want to know more about what was for our grandparents the freedom of the motherland.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” | gazeta.pl
Even before the Polish Premiere of “A Lesson of Belarusian” it was prize
winning in Germany, but in Lukashenka’s country it begins to take on a life
of its own distributed via home video recorders. The film is about Franak,
who explains to his friend that she can change the world, about his friends
who are learning Belarusian, even though it is forbidden to learn Belarusian
in Belarus and also about the inhabitants of Minsk who, under onslaught from
baton-wielding police on election night, scream for “liberty”.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” |
watch
doc’s
It’s in a good manner to decide whether it is worth seeing this film or not. I’ll honestly tell you: it’s at the top of your reading list.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” | Kino
It’s not the least bit surprising that a flawless and energetic narration
and composition from a dramatic stance appeals to one’s compassion and
solidarity. “A Lesson of Belarusian”, honestly moving, especially at the
end, quickly captured the hearts of viewers and critics, winning last year,
just after it was put together, many prizes and critical acclaim.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” | gazeta.pl
Dembiński presents conspired plots, demonstrations, the brutal pacification
of civil protest from the core, from the viewpoint of young oppositionists
resulting in a really emotional portrayal of the political situation in
Belarus.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian”
|
www.odkryjmybialorus.blox.pl
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” | www.kinomaniaki.pl
This is currently one of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. Excellent scriptwriting, brilliant music and amazing power of revolutionaries’ slogans “freedom, equality, fraternity” emanating from the screen makes our cinematography something to be proud of when compared to other European nations. Bravo!”
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” |
www.merkuriusz.id.uw.edu.pl
This film is amazing. The best thing is that such young people are so aware of themselves and their nationality. They are ready to pay the price for defending what they believe in. The film is definitely worth recommending and everyone should go and see it.
„A
Lesson of Belarusian” | www.ceo.org.pl
“A Lesson of Belarusian” at Wojkowice High School (students’ opinions)
The film was very moving. I honestly feel sorry for Belarusians. I would really like to help them. I think that after watching this, what’s happening over the garden fence, we appreciate how important freedom is.
After watching this film I was in shock. This is the 21st century and too little is said of this problem in Europe and Poland, which is a neighbor of Belarus. And it’s not as if our history is any different.
