Maïdan

the last reviewer somewhat misses the point - history happens in real time and not in film time. Therefore, a brave documentary film maker who has come along with an honest and thoughtful film of the gradual events that took place in Kiev should be applauded for NOT rushing to over edit and make the events fit the way that . This is a smouldering view of history that leads the viewer across the optimism of political protest through to the blunting of a crushed national moment. The singing and re-singing of the national anthem is caught beautifully and helps explain the motivation and passion of the protesters. Ultimately, the power of this film is that it shows what a revolution or at least attempted revolution looks like from the inside. We do not have this for 1789 or 1917 but we have a bit of it now for Kiev.

The professional reviewers find a lot of nice things to say about Maidan. What they don't tell you is how dull it is to watch. I went hoping to learn more about a contentious and important historic event and learnt only that its possible to make a film in which the makers don't edit out the bits where people wander into shot with their backs turned to the camera. I went with someone not knowledgeable about the events and they were bored and irritated by the absence of context. On the upside, i may now know the words to the ukrainian national anthem, which we are treated to no less than 3 times in full. Sorry. Maidan is a lost opportunity to this ordinary viewer's eyes.

Much of the raw emotion of Ukraine's revolution of dignity is reflected in this work, but the context is lost for lack of details. The result is a moving but disjointed telling "about" rather than "of" the three-month human drama that unfolded on the main square ("maidan") of the capital.

The rich personal panorama includes moving video clips of the people on the barricades as they worked, fought, and lived together in a community they created. In every face in every frame we see joy, sorrow, pain, exhaustion, anger, anguish, and above all hope. That alone will make this film worthwhile for many.

If you already know intimately the experience of Maidan, this film will satisfy. If not, I suggest you view the significantly better documentary "Winter of Fire." If then you want to see and feel even more, check out "Maidan."

"Maidan" is a series of long, raw videos that fail to come up with a story. Spend 60 seconds imagining a string of unedited home movies of a protest--in a foreign language with the occasional random subtitle. OK, done. You've saved yourself over two hours.

If you're interested in Maidan itself, catch "Winter on Fire" which cares about its audience and edits vignettes of participants into a moving portrait of patriotism: fearless, compassionate, and unbelievably strong. These were heroes. As they are today. They have my deepest respect.

It's free on YouTube, courtesy of Netflix.

The 'Maidan Revolution,' or 'Revolution of Dignity' as it is also called in Ukraine 2014 is an important topic because it has close connections with the current war between Russia and Ukraine right now in 2022. Unfortunately, this film does not do much more that show footage of the protests in that revolution then, when Ukrainians in the capital voiced support for closer ties with the European Union as opposed to Russia, as well as opposition to President Yanukovych. While anyone can look up the basics of that history, this movie does not do much more than show footage of the protests.

Find other ways to inform yourself of this important historical event of recent times, because this film won't give you much.