Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom

In November 2013 Ukraine was on the brink of joining the European Union (EU).  Students from around the country gathered in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (the central square of Kiev) to show their support for the plan.  But negotiations between the EU and the Ukraine government were suspended when President Vikor Yanukovych secretly made deals with Russia.  The people in Maidan were outraged and began a protest.

Their initial anger and frustration is increased when their protest is met with violent beatings by the police force, known as the Berkut.  The revolution becomes about more than just joining the EU, and lasts for 93 days.


"They gave us corruption, we gave them revolution."
This documentary is told from the perspective of the men and women that were there.  It starts with a brief history of the events leading up to the Euormaidan, including the last Ukrainian protest that in many ways influenced this one.  Featuring raw footage from the protests and a map to show the movement within Kiev.  The dates are displayed on screen, along with the day of the protest.

It is a difficult documentary to watch.  The footage is brutal and filled with violence and blood.  But the blood and violence are never glorified or used for shock, it is an honest portrayal of the conditions the protesters suffered.  The footage is interspersed with testimonies from the men and women who involved, from all walks of life and religions.  Their stories are brimming with emotion, sometimes too powerful to contain, but it is the best way for them to remember and honor the people they lost.  It is a powerful story that stays with you afterward, it is sobering.

Before the credits roll, it tells you the ultimate outcome - what happened to Yanukovych, what happened next, and numbers of casualties / injuries  and people still missing.  While it is a powerful story, the fighting isn't done in Ukraine and a little more information (or a follow-up) would be helpful for people that aren't familiar with the whole story / history (like me) to better understand.

This documentary is nominated for Best Documentary for the 2016 Academy Awards.

Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom (2015) 102 minutes
Director: Evgeny Afineevsky