The film follows Dmytro Mazuriak, a Ukrainian musician, sopilka player, and craftsman of traditional Hutsul instruments. As a member of the band Kazka, Dmytro has devoted 15 years to preserving the Malanka tradition in his home village of Ispas, Bukovyna, returning every year from Kyiv to organize the festival. For him, the celebration is a way to honor his roots and maintain his cultural identity.
A month after the 2022 Malanka festival, the full-scale Russian invasion began. By the end of that year, Ukrainian forces had liberated much of Slobozhanshchyna and Donetsk, though persistent shelling made life in these regions perilous, especially during winter. To restore hope and cultural life in these communities, young Ukrainians traveled from across the country to perform vertep—traditional nativity plays—reviving an age-old tradition that has united Ukrainians for centuries.
Produced with support from the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, Malanka and Christmas not only documents the resilience of Ukrainian traditions but also highlights the enduring spirit of communities striving to preserve culture and solidarity in the face of conflict.
Ukraine Culture Now Associaiton is a platform connecting Ukrainian and Swedish culture. We provide a cultural home for Ukrainians in Sweden and open windows to Ukraine’s history, art, and contemporary life. Through our projects, we promote exchange, understanding, long-term cooperation, and strengthen knowledge about Ukraine and place the country firmly on Sweden’s cultural map.
Information:
Drinks and snacks available from Teaterbaren and are allowed into the cinema during the screening.
Original title: Маланка та Різдво
Director: Mykola Nosok
Duration: 92 min
Language: Ukrainian with English subtitles
Production Country, Year: Ukraine, 2024
Producer: Khrystyna Kulakovska
Directors of Photography: Olha Oborina, Oleh Solohub
Sound: Margaryta Kulichova
Editors: Mykola Nosok, Kateryna Cvigun
