The National Library of Wales
The Living – film on Stalin’s Ukrainian Famine
Wed, 13 Jan 10 13:45:00
A film about the great famine which Stalin tried to hide, but which one Welsh journalist was brave enough to expose, will be screened at The National Library of Wales at 13:15 pm Tuesday 19 January.
The Living (Живі) tells the story of the tragic events in Ukraine in 1932-33 and one Welshman’s attempts to tell the world what was happening. It presents a new angle on Stalin’s man-made famine as Ukrainians who were witnesses to the millions who died and the millions more who suffered horrendously, tell their heartfelt stories.
Side by side with their story, is the story of Welsh journalist Gareth Jones. He travelled through Ukraine, by train and on foot, to see for himself what the people were enduring. Jones published articles in British newspapers drawing attention to the lack of even basic food in once rich Ukraine and told of the suffering and death. But on the whole he was ignored and even ridiculed for suggesting such things. Gareth Jones was killed in 1935 in Manchukuo and some claim that his untimely death at 29 years old, was the result of Russian revenge for Gareth Jones’ willingness to expose wrongdoing.
Now, the Ukrainian government, who commissioned the film to mark 75 years since the Holodomor, the Famine, wish to honour Gareth Jones’ efforts to tell the world despite the fact no one listened to him.
The Ukrainian film crew, under director Serhiy Bukovsky, visited Wales for the filming. They went to Gareth Jones’ home town, Barry and to Aberystwyth where Gareth was a student and to the National Library of Wales where many of his papers are kept. A small exhibition of his collection at the National Library will be on display at the Drwm.
The film is in Ukrainian but with English subtitles. Admission is free but it is advisable to book tickets before hand. Gareth Jones’s niece, Siriol Colley and her son, Nigel will also be at the screening in Aberystwyth. The film is also being shown the previous night at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff in the presence of the Minister for Culture, Alun Ffred Jones AM.
‘The National Library of Wales is very proud to screen The Living and to welcome once again, Siriol and Nigel Colley to Aberystwyth. Gareth Jones’s collections at the Library is one of our most interesting and illuminates an exciting but tragic life and period in world history,’ said Andrew Green, Librarian of The National Library of Wales.
Links
The Living
13:15 pm Tuesday 19 January 2010
Drwm, The National Library of Wales
Aberystwyth
For further information
Siôn Jobbins, NLW Press Office: 01970 632 902 sion.jobbins@llgc.org.uk
