Movie screening "Slovo House. Unfinished Novel", Jan 16

On January 16, we screened the Ukrainian drama “Slovo House. Unfinished Novel”, directed by Taras Tomenko.

Set in 1930s Kharkiv, the Slovo House is home to prominent Ukrainian writers, artists, and intellectuals. Built in 1929, this artists' collective was envisioned as a sanctuary for creative expression. However, as Stalin's regime tightened its grip, the house became an arena of surveillance, betrayal, and tragic fates.

Director Taras Tomenko, who previously made a documentary about the Slovo House, combines historical accuracy with a gripping narrative in this feature film. The story follows the young poet Volodymyr Akimov, offering insight into the personal dramas of the residents. Their creativity and vitality are suffocated under the weight of a totalitarian state, set against the backdrop of the Holodomor famine, which claimed nearly 7 million lives.

“Slovo House. Unfinished Novel” tells the story of a generation of brilliantly talented Ukrainian artists persecuted under the totalitarian system. Many of them were executed during the Great Terror, later remembered as the "Executed Renaissance". The film vividly portrays how the communist dream transformed into a nightmare.

We want to give special thanks to Taras Tomenko for his efforts in bringing the history of Ukrainian culture to life and to everyone who attended the screening!