Denys Strashnyi

Lifelong Songs

Two women with very different lives, united by their common name Nadia, which means hope in Ukrainian, but also by their deep love of song. Some time ago, singing in Ukraine was commonplace; traditional songs were powerful collective meditations that accompanied people from birth to death. Nadia Mykytivna, 82, from the village of Kriachkivka, is one of those few who still keeps this fading tradition alive. She has been singing in the Drevo folk ensemble for 58 years, and is well-known by folklorists all over Eastern Europe. Nadia Mykytivna is the last member of the original Drevo ensemble, and musicians from all over the world travel to Kriachkivka to learn from her. On the other side of the ocean, in the United States, there is another Nadia. A short visit to Kriachkivka and hearing its songs changed her life. Inspired by this, Nadia made an intimate autobiographical theatrical monologue, The Broken…

Almost 10.000 Voters

"Almost 10 000 voters" is a documentary, presenting how does democratic process work in today's Ukraine. However the director is not focused on the works of the government or the strike on the famous Maidan, but on an average small town, where the most important decisions are made. She carefully observes locals discussing politics on the street market, kids being thought how democracy works by their teacher; and young men, dressed in uniforms, going to war, not knowing if they will return. The film is a perfect example of how small-scale story make a big impact on the audience.