Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide)

Feb 23, '17, 6:53 pm

Dwyer Regular Member   Join Date: February 26, 2007 Posts: 1,361 Religion: Byzantine Catholic

Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Quote: Not many people are familiar with the word "Holodomor." Not in the same way that we're familiar with the word "Holocaust." But a genocide is a genocide, even when kept secret. The truth is that up to 10 million Ukrainians died in a man-made famine in 1932-1933 under Josef Stalin's singular brand of Communist fascism: He crushed Ukrainian resistance and attempts at independence by demanding every last speck of grain from "The Bread Basket of Europe" and denying foreign aid. The regime claimed the deaths were caused by "malnutrition," and the truth about the Holodomor wasn't known until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 2003, it was finally acknowledged by the United Nations. Written, directed and produced by descendants of Ukrainian immigrants in Canada, "Bitter Harvest" sheds new light on this underreported genocide - there have only been a couple of films made about the Holodomor. Shot on location in Ukraine right before the 2013 rebellion in Maidan Square, "Bitter Harvest" is a heartfelt family drama and stirring love story set against political machinations and crushing oppression. Max Irons (son of the English actor Jeremy Irons) stars as Yuri, a romantic young man from a rural village who wants nothing more than to make art and marry Natalka (Samantha Barks), the young woman he's loved since childhood. He's torn between city life in Kiev, where the Communist party seeks brilliant young minds, and the increasing pressure at home, where farmers are being forced to collectivize by the brutal Commissar Sergei (Tamer Hassan). After escaping violence, imprisonment, uprisings and starvation, Yuri the artist becomes Yuri the fighter, living up to the legacy of his grandfather Ivan (Terence Stamp) and father Yaroslav (Barry Pepper). http://www.newsobserver.com/entertainment/movies-news-reviews/article133992079.html#storylink=cpy It doesn't seem like this movie is entertaining enough for the professional movie reviewers but this sounds like an interesting, independently produced from Hollywood historical film, especially since it covers a period of history that does not receive any coverage from popular culture and Media. 'Bitter Harvest' is being released in movie theaters February 24th. __________________ "It's a free country; you can say whatever you want." --Old American Saying (U.S. Postal Service stamp-- from 1977 Americana series which extols freedom of speech and features a Speaker's Stand decorated with an American Flag shield.)

#2   Feb 23, '17, 7:44 pm

adamhovey1988 Regular Member   Join Date: February 12, 2015 Posts: 3,749 Religion: Christian-Catholic (Latin), my religion IS my relationship

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) I was just reading about genocide the other day. I really wish we'd talk more about situations like this, the Assyrian genocide, the Armenian genocide, and the Greek genocide. __________________ Check out my apologetics channel, subscribe if you'd like https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9E...tsEcLVRezZT9pA My blog http://adamcharleshovey.blogspot.com

#3   Feb 24, '17, 3:35 am

Monte RCMS Forum Master   Join Date: November 9, 2008 Posts: 14,675 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Look up on Amazon ... author Robert Conquest. The Harvest of Sorrow. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harvest_of_Sorrow __________________ Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You will renew the face of the earth.

#4   Feb 25, '17, 3:37 am

TCEL Regular Member   Join Date: January 17, 2014 Posts: 2,440 Religion: Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) I'd never heard of this. __________________ From Jewish Passover to Christian Eucharist: the Story of the Todah “If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments.” ― G.K. Chesterton

#5   Feb 25, '17, 6:25 pm

JharekCarnelian Forum Elder   Join Date: April 14, 2008 Posts: 30,526 Religion: Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Quote: Originally Posted by TCEL I'd never heard of this. I had, Stalin used such purges or let natural disasters rage with limited relief in other areas of the Soviet Union. At the time of the Holodomor millions were also dying in others areas there, It played a large part in the Ukrainians at first cautiously welcoming the Nazis when they invaded in certain areas in the Great Patriotic War era, at first some viewed them as potential liberators and did not really understand fully how the Nazi regime viewed Slavic peoples.

#6   Feb 26, '17, 6:31 am

TCEL Regular Member   Join Date: January 17, 2014 Posts: 2,440 Religion: Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Quote: Originally Posted by JharekCarnelian I had, Stalin used such purges or let natural disasters rage with limited relief in other areas of the Soviet Union. At the time of the Holodomor millions were also dying in others areas there, It played a large part in the Ukrainians at first cautiously welcoming the Nazis when they invaded in certain areas in the Great Patriotic War era, at first some viewed them as potential liberators and did not really understand fully how the Nazi regime viewed Slavic peoples. Out of the pot, into the fire. __________________ From Jewish Passover to Christian Eucharist: the Story of the Todah “If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments.” ― G.K. Chesterton

#7   Feb 26, '17, 1:27 pm

JharekCarnelian Forum Elder   Join Date: April 14, 2008 Posts: 30,526 Religion: Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) Quote: Originally Posted by TCEL Out of the pot, into the fire. But they didn't realize that initially. The Nazis were also always prone to using local disagreements or grievances to further their own ends as well There is also a strain of anti-Semitism in the Ukraine (and in Russian culture at times as well) that the Nazis were able to milk.

#8   Mar 1, '17, 12:05 pm

Book Worm Regular Member   Join Date: July 10, 2013 Posts: 1,102 Religion: Catholic

Re: Movie review: 'Bitter Harvest' tells little-known story of Soviet atrocity (Ukrainian Holodomor Genocide) We saw this last night. It was very, very well done, but hard to watch, as seeing the brutalities of which men are capable always is. I recom it highly.