16 days. Revolution on the Granite is a short documentary film directed by Galina Khymych, written by Lydia Chayka, and released in 2010. The film is in Ukrainian with English subtitles. Despite being just under 30 minutes long, this film does an excellent job informing viewers about the 16 day Revolution on Granite which took place in Ukraines’ capital city of Kyiv in October of 1990. One of the most notable pieces of information regarding the Revolution on Granite was that it was an almost entirely student-organized protest. The students who participated felt that a hunger strike would prove most effective in spreading their message and having their voices heard by authorities.
This documentary begins with a brief description of the sociopolitical situation in Eastern Europe during the 1980s and 1990s and how it ultimately led to dozens of protests and revolutions in a number of post soviet states including Ukraine. Less than one year after the Revolution on Granite Ukraine claimed its independence from the Soviet Union.
One of my favorite things about this documentary is how frequently the filmmakers draw on real people who participated in the Revolution on Granite to educate audiences. From Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Head of the Ukrainian Students Union secretariat, to Andriy Salyuk, Head of the Students Brotherhood at Lviv Polytechnic viewers are exposed to varying opinions and ideas in relation to the revolution and what it meant for Ukrainian students and people. Drawing on first hand accounts of the events seen in the film helps add not only credibility to the film, but also an additional level of exposure to the ideas addressed in the film.
154 students from 24 cities in Ukraine set up tents in the central square of Kyiv. They referred to it as a “camp of freedom”. One of the many things this documentary highlights is the fact that young, patriotic people can be proponents of positive change on both small and large scales. As a young person myself, it is inspiring to see that teenagers my age are not only able to stand up for what they believe in, but have great success doing so. Learning about events like the Revolution on Granite has taught me that if you want something done, you can be a proponent of change. Eventually, the students who had been hunger striking in the square broadcasted live on television and rapidly thousands of people took to the streets to support them. Ultimately, the students’ demands were met and the revolution was considered a success. With this victory, students and citizens of Ukraine gained the understanding that fighting for what they believed in was worth it. Regardless of the fact that students could have been arrested, expelled, injured, or even killed they still decided to take a stand. The selflessness that the students exhibited during the revolution is, quite frankly, heartening. To see so many young people engaged with/in the sociopolitical world proves that there is hope for a better future free of corruption, maltreatment, prejudice, and hate.
I would recommend that everyone watch this film, but particularly adolescents and young adults interested in social justice, law, politics, and policy. While I am not interested in pursuing a career in any of the previously mentioned fields I still found this film incredibly informative and inspiring. The past socio-political situation in Ukraine is not commonly known about or understood. It is important for people to learn about the Revolution on Granite and other political movements around the world because they are exceptionally important events that usually mark periods of great change and growth for/of countries and their citizens. With a stronger understanding of the past, we are less likely to repeat previously made mistakes.
Watch the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oDNuDSBaGo
Sources:
Khymych, Galina, director. 16 days. Revolution on the granite. DivakiProduction, 2010. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oDNuDSBaGo&t=135s