A Polish war documentary that sheds light on Russian war crimes committed against Ukraine’s national and multicultural heritage is being screened at Spazju Kreattiv in Valletta on December 15 at 6pm, as part of its world premiere tour.
Erase the Nation documents the resilience and determination of individuals from the world of culture, as they fight to preserve Ukraine’s history and heritage in the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A Q&A session will follow with the film’s director and host Tomasz Grzywaczewski, a war journalist and documentary film-maker with experience of the Ukrainian frontline, and an author of several non-fiction books focusing on central and Eastern Europe.
War journalist and documentary film-maker Tomasz Grzywaczewski“Often, when films focus on war crimes of any kind, culture is forgotten,” Grzywaczewski says.
“I wanted to tell the story of Ukrainian culture and the tireless and courageous work of those fighting to protect it from wilful destruction. Malta’s culture is equally rich, historic and unique, and people in Malta understand how important culture and history are to the national identity, so I believe that Ukraine’s efforts to protect its own culture will especially strike a chord here in Malta.”
Produced by Inbornmedia and supported by the Polish National Institute of Cultural Heritage, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and the Polish Support Centre for Culture in Ukraine, the powerful film also highlights the deliberate devastation of Ukrainian monuments throughout the country to rewrite the nation’s history.
These range from archaeological sites and museums to modern libraries and schools, as well as sacred places such as the cathedral in Odessa. Likewise, it pays tribute to the artists who have perished in the conflict, emphasising the long-term loss of Ukrainian heritage that has already resulted from the war.
I hope this film will raise awareness about what is happening in Ukraine and highlight the scale of assistance that is needed to protect and restore its cultural heritage
“Before the war, there were over 5,000 museums, 65 historical-cultural reserves and around 170,000 monuments, including seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Ukraine. Already, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Information Policy has registered more than 800 cases of destruction by Russian troops on Ukraine’s cultural heritage – a number that rises daily,” Grzywaczewski points out.
“I hope this film will raise awareness about what is happening in Ukraine and highlight the scale of assistance that is needed to protect and restore its cultural heritage.”
Tickets are free but booking in advance is required at www. kreattivita.org.
A destroyed church in Ukraine's Donetsk region featured in the film.