Film Night: Family Portrait in Black and White followed by a discussion with Halyna Hryn
Date and Time
July 10, 2014
07:00PM - 09:00PM EDT
Location
1730 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA, United States
The reality of growing up as a bi-racial child in Ukraine, a rare and truly visible minority, is not for the faint of heart. Interviewswith African medical students and neo-nazis on the streets of Kiev paint avery dangerous picture.
Olga is a foster mother to 16 bi-racial orphans. She calls them “my chocolates” and raises them to be patriotic Ukrainians. Some residents of her small town in Eastern Ukraine, neighboring Russia, consider Olga a saint – but many believe she is just crazy. Inherited from the Soviet era, there is a stigma in the country against interracial relationships between Ukrainian girls and students from Africa, who come toUkraine to study. The destiny of hundreds of bi-racial children is tragic – unwanted and doomed to grow up as orphans.
“A multiple-award-winninginternational festival favorite, Family Portrait in Black and White is a compelling look at racism, value systems, and just what family means in today’s ever-changing society.” Mark Rifkin, THIS WEEK IN NY
“Gets high marks for honesty. Portrait of an imperfect solution in UKRAINE, a country that seems to have a lot that needs solving. ” Neil Genzlinger, NEW YORK TIMES
“Humanity of this picture’s subjects is what makes it a compelling experience.” Mark Deming, TV GUIDE
“The film is a feat of unforced & watchful insight.” Michael Phillips, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Location: CGIS South, Belfer Case Study Room, S020
Olga is a foster mother to 16 bi-racial orphans. She calls them “my chocolates” and raises them to be patriotic Ukrainians. Some residents of her small town in Eastern Ukraine, neighboring Russia, consider Olga a saint – but many believe she is just crazy. Inherited from the Soviet era, there is a stigma in the country against interracial relationships between Ukrainian girls and students from Africa, who come toUkraine to study. The destiny of hundreds of bi-racial children is tragic – unwanted and doomed to grow up as orphans.
“A multiple-award-winninginternational festival favorite, Family Portrait in Black and White is a compelling look at racism, value systems, and just what family means in today’s ever-changing society.” Mark Rifkin, THIS WEEK IN NY
“Gets high marks for honesty. Portrait of an imperfect solution in UKRAINE, a country that seems to have a lot that needs solving. ” Neil Genzlinger, NEW YORK TIMES
“Humanity of this picture’s subjects is what makes it a compelling experience.” Mark Deming, TV GUIDE
“The film is a feat of unforced & watchful insight.” Michael Phillips, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Location: CGIS South, Belfer Case Study Room, S020