Noticias

The documentary Fragile Memory, directed by Igor Ivanko in 2022, follows a fascinating story of remembrance as it chronicles the declining memory of one of Ukrainian cinema’s legends, Leonid Burlaka.

A prolific cinematographer during the Soviet era, Burlaka lent his talents to over thirty films throughout his decadeslong career. As age starts to catch up with Burlaka and the effects of dementia begin to set in, Ivanko embarks on a journey to learn about and honor the life and accomplishments of his grandfather before it’s too late.

What begins as a personal endeavor to understand the man Ivanko knew as a child evolves into something more as a collection of unseen archival material is discovered. Stored away for years at the family’s summer home are hundreds of rolls of photographic film, a treasure trove capturing Burlaka’s adventures through the years.

As Ivanko attempts to get what insights...

Ihor Ivanko’s documentary looks at his grandfather Leonid Burlaka’s career through a treasure trove of undeveloped photos and explores the role film has in preserving history

A labour of love, Ihor Ivanko’s documentary pays tribute to his grandfather Leonid Burlaka, a prolific Ukrainian cinematographer during the golden days of Soviet cinema. Having inherited his love for images from Burlaka, Ivanko comes across another heirloom as he discovers rolls of undeveloped films at his grandparents’ summer home. These forgotten treasures carry the traces of Burlaka’s life, and the remains of a bygone film-making era.

Many of these black-and-white photos are discoloured and damaged, leaving behind evocative swirls and patterns; in closeup, these imperfections conjure a form of visual map that bears the mark of time. Through this marvellous archive, we get a glimpse of Burlaka as a student at the prestigious Vgik film school in Moscow, and...