MOTHERS - A SONG FOR WARTIME
Short & sweet
A striking and beautiful performance of 21 Ukrainian, Polish, Belarusian mothers and their children. Of different ages and life stories. Refugees from Mariupol, Kyiv and Irpin. Those who have fled the war, and those who have fled persecution. They use the power of their voices to name that for which there can be no words. Based on traditional and ritual Ukrainian song, the performance becomes an accusation, a plea and a warning to us and all people in Europe.
Still curious?
The performance Mothers - a song for wartime opens with a shchedrivka (Ukr. щедрівка) – a traditional Ukrainian song, a wish of happiness and rebirth of the world. It dates back to pre-Christian times and is likely thousands of years long. The ritual of singing a shchedrivka was performed by women only, or by women and children and it was always addressed to a particular person. People believed in the power of the song, trusting that its words and the good wishes would come true. Today, these sung wishes are addressed to all people, for a new time; for their entire life
The wartime rituals of violence against women never change. War asks Europe the ultimate questions: about responsibility in the face of danger, and about our defense mechanisms. Out of the testimonies of mothers and children - Ukrainians, Belarusians and Poles: those who have fled war; those who have fled persecution; and, finally, those who have welcomed them in Polish homes.
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