Motherland
Alexander Mihalkovich, Hanna Badziaka
Sweden, Ukraine, Norway - 2023 - 92’ - CPH:DOX 2023
A film from Belarus "situated" between two extremes - from rave parties in post-Soviet darkness to the reflection of neo-nationalism in a society where corruption and a brutal war-honouring culture divide the young generation. When Nikita begins his mandatory military service in 2020, he is confronted head-on with the deeply guarded secret of a deadly tradition that has existed for decades in post-Soviet Belarus: "dedovshtina," or the practice of violence and harassment that allegedly turns boys into men, but instead creates deep traumas for generations that have shaped the country's present day culture and identity. Through their personal and professional perspectives, filmmakers Aleksandar Mihalkovich and Hanna Badziaka put contemporary Belarus under their lens and explore the state's instruments of fear-mongering.
18.09, 19:00, LARGO
23.09, 15.00, CINEMA HOUSE
Free admission with invitations or reservations made in advance for the opening screening. The event is organised in partnership with the European Parliament.