The breathtaking inside story of Kiev’s Maidan uprising

Powerful new documentary — Ukranian director Sergei Loznitsa captures the sacrifice and heroism of Kiev's Maidan uprising against corrupt president Victor Yanukovych.

When tens of thousands of Ukranians assembled in Kiev’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) from November 2013 to February 2014 and eventually ousted their corrupt president Victor Yanukovych, it was an inspiring example of what people can do when they come together. Despite brutal repression by the security forces (around 100 were killed and more than 1,100 wounded), protestors held strong and claimed victory.

Ukrainian director’s Sergei Loznitsa’s remarkable documentary Maidan recounts the story of this popular uprising from the smallest, seemingly insignificant moments, such as handing out food, organising medical care, etc. right up to the high drama of pitched battles against the police. He shoots in a restrained, observational style with static shots, but the unfolding events play out with the intensity of a big-budget action movie.

“What I find amazing is that human societies still require such events, such tragic sacrifices, in order to shape up as societies,” Loznitsa told Film Comment. “The story of Maidan obviously is not at all unique, because every society has in its history moments like that, moments of sacrifice.”

Maidan is a moving tale of how people can come together with a common goal, unite against injustice and bring out the best in one another. But the unseen character who casts a shadow over proceedings is Vladimir Putin. Watching the film knowing what comes next for Ukraine – the invasion of Crimea and an ongoing civil conflict fuelled by Russia – makes the heroism and sacrifice of the protestors all the more tragic. It’s a powerful reminder that the bravery and unity of a small nation is often not enough to overcome more powerful external forces.

Maidan is out in the UK February 20. Read the Little White Lies review.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Red shop frontage with "Open Out" branding and appointment-only signage.
Activism

Meet the trans-led hairdressers providing London with gender-affirming trims

Open Out — Since being founded in 2011, the Hoxton salon has become a crucial space the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Hannah Bentley caught up with co-founder Greygory Vass to hear about its growth, breaking down barbering binaries, and the recent Supreme Court ruling.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Cyclists racing past Palestinian flag, yellow barriers, and spectators.
Sport

Gazan amputees secure Para-Cycling World Championships qualification

Gaza Sunbirds — Alaa al-Dali and Mohamed Asfour earned Palestine’s first-ever top-20 finish at the Para-Cycling World Cup in Belgium over the weekend.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Crowded festival site with tents, stalls and an illuminated red double-decker bus. Groups of people, including children, milling about on the muddy ground.
© Alan Tash Lodge
Music

New documentary revisits the radical history of UK free rave culture

Free Party: A Folk History — Directed by Aaron Trinder, it features first-hand stories from key crews including DiY, Spiral Tribe, Bedlam and Circus Warp, with public streaming available from May 30.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Weathered wooden building with a tall spire, person on horseback in foreground.
Culture

Rahim Fortune’s dreamlike vision of the Black American South

Reflections — In the Texas native’s debut solo show, he weaves familial history and documentary photography to challenge the region’s visual tropes.

Written by: Miss Rosen

A collage depicting a giant flup for mankind, with an image of the Earth surrounded by planets and people in sci-fi costumes.
Culture

Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind

Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.

Written by: Emma Garland

Three orange book covers with the title "Foreign Fruit" against a dark background.
Culture

Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”

Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.

Written by: Katie Goh

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.