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Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)
Pizzeria Antica
10 E. Chester St.
Champaign, Illinois 61820
(217) 530-4137
Category
Hours
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A cinematic excursion steeped in folklore, ritual, and ecstatic color, this Romeo-and-Juliet-esque tale set in the Carpathian Mountains is considered one of the most internationally heralded Ukrainian films in history. More than a film, it’s a sensory incantation—an explosion of camera movement, mythic symbolism, and visual experimentation that helped redefine what Soviet-era filmmaking could dare to be (though few were able to see the film in the Soviet Union).
Decades later, its hypnotic imagery and rebellious creative spirit still feel startlingly modern, earning it a permanent place as a classic example of Ukrainian magical realist cinema. Unfortunately for Parajanov, the KGB surveilled him for his love of Ukrainian culture and for his sexuality, leading to his arrest for “sodomy” by the Soviet authorities when in reality many at the time believed it was for his love of Ukrainian culture.
Content warnings: Graphic violence, death, murder, suicide, grief, ritual violence, animal death, religious imagery, and scenes of emotional distress.
Advance tickets: $10 (available online until 5pm on November 7) | Regular admission: $12 (at the door)
Ukraine 1965 | 97 min | Not Rated | Directed by: Sergei Parajanov | Presented by: Sam Veremchuk