Oleksandr Dovzhenko

Meet the eminent film director whose visionary contributions to the world of cinema have immortalized the essence of Ukrainian culture and history on the silver screen

Oleksandr Dovzhenko by 2021 DOVZHENKO CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Source: https://vufku.org/en/names/oleskandr-dovzhenkoCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy

Dovzhenko began his journey as a cartoonist, ventured into prose and screenwriting, and even served as a war correspondent. It was his role as a film director that brought him international recognition.

Dovzhenko was renowned for his innovative approach to editing, which helped create a distinct rhythm and mood in his films. Dovzhenko regarded editing as a crucial tool of cinematic expressiveness, enabling the conveyance of complex emotions and ideas.

He used editing to enhance emotional moments, establish symbolic connections, and skillfully combine visual imagery with lyrical elements and music. His experiments with form, rhythm, and pacing allowed for dynamic scenes and unique visuals. 

Oleksandr Dovzhenko by All rights reserved © 2021 Ukrainian Institute LondonCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy

His film, Earth, stands out as one of the most remarkable black and white movies in the world of cinematography. Upon its screening in Venice, Italian directors hailed Dovzhenko as "the Homer of Cinema."

Dovzhenko was a master of visual poetry and landscape depiction. The aesthetics of landscape in his works proved to be a significant element contributing to the mood and symbolism in his films. 

He skilfully utilized nature to convey emotions and create a profound connection between characters and their surroundings. His visually captivating and symbolic landscapes helped underscore the film's themes and lend them a poetic dimension, enriching the emotional experience for the audience.

Oleksandr Dovzhenko by Sences of Cinema. Great Directors. Issue 89. Article by Jeremy CarrCFC Big Ideas in association with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy

Dovzhenko eloquently expressed the multi-faceted nature of his films by likening them to apple trees: a vigorous shake might yield 500 apples, while a gentle shake might release only 10. To truly savor the richness, one must partake in multiple viewings.

With the beginning of WWII, Dovzhenko was evacuated to Ashgabat, where he volunteered to join the army as a correspondent for the Red Army newspaper. In 1943, he completed the film Ukraine on Fire, later banned by Stalin. 

Dovzhenko was not allowed to return to Ukraine, so until his last days he lived in Moscow, working for Mosfilm. Yearning for Ukraine, he wrote in his diary: "I will die in Moscow, never having seen Ukraine! Before my death, I will ask Stalin to have my heart removed from my chest before they burn me in the crematorium and bury it in the native soil, in Kyiv, somewhere on a hill over the Dnipro."

Credits: Story

Text: based on text by Borys Filonenko 

Original text from the album of the Prominent Ukrainians project, published jointly by Pictoric Illustrators Club, Pavlo Gudimov Ya Gallery Art Center, Artbook Publishing House and Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

Photo:

2021 DOVZHENKO CENTER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
Explore more
Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites