Screening times:
Sunday, November 9, 5:30 PM
Denys Tarasov | Ukraine | 2023 | 119m
Ukrainian with English subtitles
This screening is presented by Kinotoloka Halifax. Kinotoloka is a community project that unites the community through screenings of Ukrainian films, fostering cultural exchange, raising awareness about Ukrainian cinema, and promoting Ukrainian narratives. More: https://www.kinotoloka.ca/
Kinotoloka proudly presents, in collaboration with Carbon Arc, one of the recent cinematic works by Denys Tarasov — a gripping historical drama-thriller that captures both the spirit of the past and the struggle for freedom.
In the 1970s, Andriy Dovzhenko, a young, creative, and freedom-loving individual, discovered that many accused of "anti-Soviet activity" were sent to special psychiatric hospitals rather than prisons, diagnosed with a KGB-invented condition — "sluggish schizophrenia." Trapped in the horrors of punitive psychiatry, Andriy faces a choice: cooperate with the KGB to return to his family or expose the truth about dissidents tortured in psychiatric facilities.
Throughout the film, Andriy undergoes a profound transformation, grappling with whether his rebellion against the Soviet system stems from a desire to stand out or a genuine pursuit of human free will. He represents a composite of freedom-loving individuals caught in the KGB's grip due to their rejection of the oppressive communist regime.
Best Director — Denys Tarasov, Montreal International Film Festival (2024)
Special Mention — Warsaw International Film Festival (2023)
Official Selection — Transilvania International Film Festival & Hamburg Film Festival (2024)
Tickets $12.65 ($12 cash at the door if available)
Apologies we cannot process punch pass admissions to this event, as all ticket proceeds go to Kinotoloka Halifax, not Carbon Arc
