What role do women play in Ukrainian filmography? Examples of famous actresses.
Life | | 661 | Author: Elina Oshurko
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What role do women play in Ukrainian films?
There have been many changes in Ukrainian cinema over this time, but women play an important role in shaping the Ukrainian film industry. There are many women actresses, directors, producers, and screenwriters.
For example, the famous Ukrainian actress Rimma Zyubina graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Culture in the directing department and has starred in many films such as "Island of Love," "The Nest of the Turtledove," "Spirit of the Earth," "Mandragora," and "Robbery a la Femme." All viewers remember the film "The Nest of the Turtledove" well, as Rimma Zyubina played her star role as Darina there.
For this role, she received the "Golden Dzyga" award in the "Best Female Role" category. She was also awarded a special prize at the International Film Festival in Mannheim, Germany, in 2016, and at the International Film Festival "Love is Madness" in Varna, Bulgaria, in 2017 for her best female role. She is a two-time recipient of the Kyiv Pectoral Theatre Award (2004, 2008).
Also, she started working in theater at the age of 19, performing at the Lviv Theatre "Resurrection." She worked at the Kyiv Theatre "Personalities" and also participated in the work on a production at the National Academic Drama Theatre named after Maria Zankovetska.
Productions featuring Zyubina have participated in prestigious theatrical forums: the Edinburgh International Festival (United Kingdom), the Cairo International Theatre Festival (Egypt), the International Theatre Festival "Golden Lion" (Lviv, Ukraine), and "Elbląg Theatre Spring" (Elbląg, Poland).
In 2014, she announced that a special award would be established in the "Coronation of Words" contest, named after Rimma Zyubina, for a work about the famous American singer of Ukrainian descent, Kvitka Cisyk.
In August 2016, she organized the children's film festival "FilmFestBook" at the children's camp "Artek-Bukovel."
With over 20 years of work in the film industry, she has appeared in about 90 television films and 7 feature films.
In 2018, she starred in the Slovak-Ukrainian film "The Border," which was presented in the international program of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and received an award for "Best Director."
Her work is well-known for Rimma Zyubina's exceptional acting skills.
The actress actively supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine, hosts charity projects, and engages in charitable work herself because she believes that the acting profession is not permanent and that one can stop being an actress at any time.
Here is how the famous Ukrainian actress Rimma Zyubina expresses her views on the acting profession:
"The profession is indeed terribly dependent. On everything. On the country in which you were born, live, and create. Whether it's theatrical or cinematic... Sometimes, you depend on trends regarding types. Today, the faces of movie heroes are as close to life as possible. Sometimes it is completely impossible to distinguish whether it is an actor or a 'person from the street.' And this is a radical change of the last decades in world cinema. If it’s theater, then you depend on the director, who either sees you or doesn’t see you in his production. In both cinema and theater, we primarily depend on the author—whether a role is written for you here. In series, we still depend on whether the channel likes you or if you are a media personality. Often, an actor is told: 'We cannot approve you for the lead role; you are not a media personality.' But how can they become media if they are not cast?
What happens to an actor who does not perform? They lose their shape and degrade. They become disillusioned with themselves. This is scary. I know many actors who had natural talent, plus a very good education. But things didn't work out. They are broken, resentful towards the whole world, destroyed as individuals... Well, and age, of course. Movies are not written for people 45 and older. And when I think about this, when I compare Ukrainian scripts with European ones, yes, it’s sad..."
She also shared why she chose the acting profession:
"The profession is truly terrifyingly dependent. On everything. On the country you were born in, where you live and create. Whether it's theatrical or cinematic... Sometimes you're dependent on the trend for certain types. Today, the faces of movie heroes are as close to real life as possible. Sometimes it’s completely impossible to tell whether someone is an actor or 'a person from the street.' And this is a radical change in world cinema over the last few decades. If it’s theater, you depend on the director, who either sees you or doesn’t see you in their production. In both film and theater, we are primarily dependent on the author – whether the role was written for you. In series, we are also dependent on whether the channel likes you or whether you are a media figure. Actors are often told: 'We can't approve you for the lead role because you are not a media person.' But how can one become a media person if they are not being cast?
What happens to an actor who does not perform? They lose their form, they degrade. They become disillusioned with themselves. This is frightening. I know many actors who naturally had talent, plus an excellent education. But it just didn’t work out. They are broken. Offended at the whole world. Ruined as personalities… And of course, there is age. They don’t write film stories for people 45 and older. And when I think about this, when I compare Ukrainian scripts with European ones, it’s indeed sad..."
She also spoke about why she chose the acting profession:
"We don’t have a proper contractual system. Actors come to the theater at 19 and wait until they are taken out feet first. There’s a whole life there. People get married, have children, divorce... They play love at 20, but by 50 they already hate each other, yet continue to play love in the same production. For me, a theatrical existence system like that in Poland and Germany is more acceptable. When every five years you change theaters, partners... you see different eyes, you understand different energies. You must always be in shape, because if you let yourself go, in five years no theater will take you. You can’t gain 30 kilograms, naively thinking that 'there's no such thing as too many blue shadows.' All of this is a stimulus."
Regarding the modern woman, the actress mentioned that nowadays women are varied, but generally more dramatic.
She engaged in ballet, vocal training, worked as a radio announcer, studied at a music school, hosted concerts, and participated in reading competitions.
Although there were obstacles to her goal of becoming an actress—her parents did not approve of her choice, she did not gain admission to the theater university in Kyiv right away, then worked in the Transcarpathian Regional Musical Drama Theater while simultaneously studying part-time at the institute, searching for her ideal theater to work at—she did not give up and steadily pursued her goal. She found a job at the Young Theater, where inspiration and the desire to work awaited her. She always dreamed of playing Kvitka Tsisyk because she was enchanted by her voice, but later realized that she had outgrown that role and would not be able to portray it.
Another example of a renowned Ukrainian actress is Irma Vitkovska. She is a participant in international theater and film festivals and has been included for several years in the lists of prominent artists and public figures by the publications "NV" and "Focus." She is a two-time laureate of the "Golden Dziga" award, for her role as Baba Prisia in the film "The Gate" and for her role as Halyna Rott in "My Thoughts Are Silent." Additionally, she is an active public figure advocating for reforms in the field of culture.
The actress has also worked in theater and is a laureate of the "Woman in Art" award in the theater and cinema category from the UN and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's Institute. Irma is actively involved in charity work, making traditional dolls, selling them, and donating the funds to support soldiers on the front line. She is a participant in the social programs "Street Children" and "StopPain," and she played the lead role in the project "Oscar and the Pink Lady," aimed at raising funds for terminally ill children.
In theater, she is known for notable works such as "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," "Steel Will," "The Wizard of the Emerald City," and "The Round Dance of Love." Her performances are characterized by exceptional acting skills.
Her filmography includes such films as "Iron Hundred," "Tales of an Old Miller," "Devoted," "Everything Will Be OK," "Rap Kings," and "On the Road."
Irma Vitkovska's television career is also noteworthy: she is a host on the projects "Marriage Games" on ICTV, "People's Star" on the Ukraine TV channel, and "My Little One Can" and "Little Giants" on the 1+1 channel. She participated in the project "Show Must Go On" on the New Channel.
Irma Vitkovska has also worked on dubbing projects into Ukrainian, including "Bolt," "The Lorax," "Gnomeo & Juliet," and others.
It is known that Irma is a stage name; her real name is Iryna.
Irma Vitkovska is the first Ukrainian actress in the history of independent cinema to appear in an international commercial film, and she has also received the "Kyiv" award for her substantial contribution to the development of Ukrainian cinema.
When asked if she is currently happy, the actress responds:
"I consider myself happy. I am healthy, my arms and legs are in place – what else do I need? To be happy, one must live in harmony with oneself. Even when depression sets in, one must surrender to it," she says in response to the question, "What does happiness mean to you?"
Although she initially dreamed of becoming an archeologist, she didn't enroll at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University on her first attempt (she applied twice). However, she didn’t give up and continued to fight for her dream of becoming an actress. She graduated from the Lviv State Music Academy and realized she was on the right path.
In 2015, she was a coach on the show "Little Giants" on "1+1." On the ICTV channel, she hosted the projects "People's Star" and "Marriage Games." Irma Vitkovska also participated in the vocal show "People's Star" on the "Ukraine" channel. At the National Circus arena, in collaboration with the "Wild Theater" and the producer group she was part of, she realized the project "Aphrodisiac" (directed by Maksym Golenko), which was viewed by over 14,000 spectators over seven performances (one season), setting a record in the theater industry.
Although the girl initially dreamed of becoming an archaeologist, she did not get accepted to the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian Institute of Archaeology right away (she applied twice). However, she did not give up and continued to fight for her dream of becoming an actress. She graduated from the Lviv State Academy of Music and realized she was on the right path.
In 2015, she was a coach on the show "Little Giants" on "1+1". She hosted projects "People's Star" and "Marriage Games" on ICTV. Irma Vitolskaya participated in the vocal show "People's Star" on the "Ukraine" channel. At the National Circus arena, in collaboration with the "Wild Theater" and the production team she was part of, she implemented the project "Aphrodisiac" (directed by Maksym Holenko), which was viewed by over 14,000 spectators during seven performances (one season), setting a record in the theater industry.
When asked if her roles have changed her as an actress, Irma responds:
"Destiny. Absolutely. 'Gates' wouldn’t have existed if it weren't for the play 'Stalkers' by Stas Zhyrkov. This play came to me from him. I believe nothing is accidental. God always sends some signals through people, encounters, and situations that unfold. And it’s not accidental that in my life I have Rostyslav Derzhypilskyi, with whom we studied, and Oleg Vergeylys, who suggested me to Stas Zhyrkov. Stas looked at me differently and took the risk, and we created this wonderful play.
Volodya (director Volodymyr Tykhyi) came to the performance and was inspired. We worked a lot with Volodya — as an actress, I believe he had no doubts about me. I think he was inspired that a young person transformed into a grandmother so effectively. But theater is one thing, and cinema is another. And of course, Tykhyi needed to create his own story." She also emphasizes that nothing is accidental in a person's life; everything happens according to certain laws and can be explained.
Irma Vitovskaya would like to play a historian or an archaeologist; it has been her dream since childhood.
Finally, the last example of a Ukrainian actress is Olga Sumskaya, who is famous for her starring role as Roksolana in the series "Roksolana." She studied at the Kyiv Institute of Theater Arts named after Ivan Karpenko-Karyy. Although the stage was not new to her, as she debuted at the age of 5 at the Zaporizhzhia Ukrainian Drama Theater named after Shchors. The following year, she became an actress at the National Academic Theater of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka. Her filmography includes other notable films worth watching: "Carpathian Gold," "Evenings on a Farm Near Dykanka," "Well, You Are a Witch," "The Trap," "Four Sheets of Plywood," "The Voice of the Grass," and others.
She also works in theater and has a vast number of theatrical roles. For example, "Anna Karenina," "Master and Margarita," "Love and Pigeons," "Crocodile," "The Inspector," "Invitation to the Castle," "Crazy Money," and others.
Olga Sumskaya recounts that the search for the lead role in the series "Roksolana" took a long time; the director could not find the right actress who could convey Roksolana's feelings — a girl who was kidnapped from her hometown and sold at a slave market, from which she ended up in the palace of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. Olga decided to audition with Boris Nebereidze, even though they were sworn enemies. Despite her theater colleagues advising against it, claiming Olga Sumskaya was too tall for that role and that she was 29 at the time, which they hinted at, she did not listen to anyone, went to the audition, and forgetting all slights, performed the task — she played a breakup with her fiancé, and Boris said:
"I found her! Here is my Roksolana!"
She also worked as a voice actress, with her repertoire including such works as "Forbidden Love," "Magnificent Century: Roksolana," "Magnificent Century: The New Mistress," "Wings of Love," "Our Ladies in Warsaw," and more.In 1997, for her significant personal contribution to the cultural development of Ukraine, Olga Sumska was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Ukraine, and in 2009, she became a People's Artist.The actress is a laureate of the National Taras Shevchenko Prize of Ukraine and is a volunteer and a member of the political party European Capital. She also ran for the position of mayor of Kyiv.As a volunteer, she constantly participates in charitable performances and concerts. She actively raises funds to help animals.It is known that Olga Sumska will play the role of Sofia Kosach in the famous series ("Serf"). Her character is a widow of a nobleman from an ancient noble family that has always served the emperor faithfully. Sofia's husband died seven years ago, and she is left alone with three children. She deeply loved her husband and never remarried, despite having suitors. Sofia is a gentle and intelligent person who is not used to seeing malice in others.Olga Sumska says that all her roles are very important to her, and she cannot single out just one: "All my roles are dear to me in some way. One cannot highlight just one. There are simply the loudest roles – like Roksolana, thanks to which I became a well-known actress. But believe me, my first role in film is no less dear to me. At the age of 16, I played in the film 'Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka,' a poetic film directed by Yuri Tkachenko. They invited me, a very young and inexperienced girl, to play the role of Gogol's muse, the Young Lady, the daughter of a Cossack officer. This is a very high bar; it is a strong school to work on the same set with the giants of Soviet cinema of that time; it is very inspiring and it serves as a very important springboard. So I am grateful to fate for all my roles, of which I have many. Each one is dear to me because they all involve meetings with wonderful directors. I have worked with Timofiy Levchuk, Yuri Ilyenko, Boris Nebiyeridze (the director of 'Roksolana,' - 'Glaivkom'), who made me a star of Ukrainian cinema, as well as with Yuri Kary, Georgiy Yungvald-Khilkevich, Semen Horovy, Max Paperinik, Yaroslav Lupi, Vilen Novak, Natalia Motuzko, Oleg Biymo... This also includes collaboration with my wonderful partners – actors."Although Olga Sumska has long left the Lesya Ukrainka Theater and cannot return there, she does not give up and continues to act in theaters. We can learn more about this from her interview:"We recently performed in 'Sublimation of Love' by Aldo De Benedetti, also under the direction of Yevhen Paperna. He invited me and Vitalik (Borysyuk) again. Now we are taking this performance on tour throughout Ukraine. It has gone really well; it has already been very warmly received in Odesa. In Kyiv, we played to packed houses.
The sublimation of love that occurs on stage also happens in life. Because when people have preserved creative relations and have not become enemies, and we find the strength to work together (especially since Yevhen proposed to me and Vitalik to perform in his play), it is very valuable. He has supported us the most. See how life has turned out? My ex-husband has supported me the most in this format of the tour. For this, I am also very grateful to him."Olga Sumska does not forget about her television career: she actively collaborates with the STB channel, participating in talk shows such as "One for All" and "Everything Will Be Good." Of course, she is also known from "The Battle of Psychics." Two new programs have started: "Era" with a culinary show - "Deliciousness," as the actress really loves cooking, which is one of her talents. These women are exceptionally talented and have made a significant contribution to Ukrainian cinema.
References:
https://www.ukr.net/news/details/show_business/100827030.html
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