Maidan

MAIDAN chronicles the civil uprising which took place in Kiev in the winter of 2013/14. The film follows the progress of the revolution: from peaceful rallies, half a million strong, in the Maidan square, to the bloody street battles between the protestors and riot police. MAIDAN is a portrait of an awakening nation, rediscovering its identity.
“MAIDAN is the first film in my rather long documentary career, when I actually had to follow the events of ‘real life’, as they were unfolding. This was a new and nerve-wrecking experience for me. Usually, when I start on a documentary, I start by laying out a complete structure of the film in my head. I know exactly how the film will begin, how the narrative will develop and how it will end. Making MAIDAN was a completely different experience. I was receiving new footage throughout January and February, and as tension was escalating and blood was shed, I was editing the film, not knowing what ending to expect. I divided the film into several parts: the prologue, the celebration, the battle and the post-scriptum.” (Sergei Loznitsa)