European Union Film Festival: Flowers of Ukraine

Part of the European Union Film Festival in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh

With director Adelina Borets and producer in person!

With goats and chickens, tomatoes and cucumbers in the middle of the city, Natalia protects her space in the heart of Kyiv. The fight against gentrification takes on a new front with the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Polish director Adelina Borets traveled to the capital of Ukraine to follow one of the city’s most colorful characters. In her garden Natalia raises not just vegetables but goats and chickens. Her garden happens to be in the middle of a block of soviet style buildings in the heart of Kyiv. The 67-year-old force of a person has been fighting gentrification and investors. They want her plot to build another building. Facing pressure from the developers and also from her own neighbors, Natalia stands her ground. The confrontation takes on a whole new dimension with the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now the battle to protect her garden becomes a battle to preserve an entire way of life.

Directed by Adelina Borets

2024 | Poland, Ukraine | Ukranian language with English subtitles | DCP

Faculty and students of the University of Pittsburgh may attend for free by showing a Pitt University ID at the door.