REVISITING KYIV
A new documentary highlights the Klitschko brothers, both former boxing world champions, as they now fight to preserve their homeland
When I interviewed Vitali Klitschko, champion boxer turned mayor of Kyiv, Ukraine, for WONDERLUST five years ago, he gushed about his city. He was proud of how it had overcome past atrocities and grown to be a town of multiple nationalities and housing international students. A diversity, yet a harmony. I found him to be a larger-than-life but gracious human being, with the unique overriding Ukrainian dry humor we’ve all come to know.
Using humor in war tactics has become Ukraine’s modus operandi, and indeed it has worked in ways to keep the morale high, not only amongst the troops but also in the outer world. But it is no laughing matter. Now spanning almost two and a half years, the so-called “special military operation” conducted by the small in stature, Napoleonic Russian leader Putin, has been failing miserably, at the pointless cost of countless lives, both Russian soldiers and innocent Ukrainians.
Russia already reaches over eleven time zones, but apparently that’s not big enough for this sad, pathetic despot.
The Klitschko brothers are anything but small. Standing at around 6’ 7”, they were brought up by a military father, and their dear mother, neither expecting to get into politics. Their collective eyes were on the boxing ring. Vitali, winning world titles with his haphazard boxing style, was never floored. Wladimir followed and was also world champion. Now retired from boxing, their stamina and fortitude is tested in different ways since Putin’s invasion on February 24th, 2022. Vitali is a politician, and his brother is a staunch activist.
Academy Award winner Kevin Macdonald (One Day in September, Touching the Void), with Edgar Dubrovskiy co-directing, just released their first feature documentary together, Klitschko: More Than A Fight, at Sheffield International Documentary Festival, DocFest 2024 UK, now in its 31st year and featuring an impossible number of events over a five-day span.
The fest opened June 12th with the Klitschko brothers’ film at Sheffield City Hall.
The film shows the still mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, now literally picking up the pieces and trying to help his people carry on and live a normalized life. He’s rebuilding. His connection with his people is heartfelt and immense. He hardly sleeps. The strength and determination he has is beyond admirable. Driving across the country to deliver drones to the front line, he says in the film that if he wasn’t in politics, he’d be there on the front line. He’s humble too.
The almost comedic Ukrainian bickering between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vitali Klitschko also can be seen in the film, maybe an imagined rivalry, yet they both enhance and maybe need the other.
Kevin Macdonald says that he wants to put the film out into the world, to keep people’s awareness. “Making people more interested again. That’s the goal of this film.”
The film will be available to watch on Sky Documentaries later this year in the UK. Elsewhere to be announced.
