Hundreds of people rallied in front of Kyiv city hall on Oct. 31 to demand an investigation into a fire that recently destroyed the popular Zhovten cinema. They also called for reconstruction of the historic building and Kyiv’s oldest move theater built in 1930, which has been the subject of a years-long rent dispute.
The activists honored the ruined arthouse cinema by wearing yellow jackets, hats and scarves and holding yellow posters that read “Give Zhovten cinema back!” Zhovten means ‘October’ in Ukrainian and derives from the word “yellow.” Others spattered black drops on their placards accompanied by the inscription: “There are still drops in the ocean,” a reference to the popular EuroMaidan Revolution slogan “I am a drop in the ocean.”
Having found strength during Maidan protests last winter, Kyiv civil society quickly reacted when the cinema caught fire just before 10 p.m. on Oct. 29. Eye witnesses reported a smoke bomb being thrown by unknown persons during a movie screening on the ground floor and massive flames and black smoke that engulfed the roof of the building later. The next day, activists, suspecting arson, gathered on social networks to discuss their demands to the city authorities, including an extraordinary session of Kyiv city council on Oct. 31, in addition to the rally.
“I personally donate Hr 10,000 (to the renovation of the cinema) because I care,” newly elected Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko, who rode to power on the waves of the EuroMaidan protests, told the rally. “I call everyone, if you do care, please, donate money and we could renew the cinema together.”
After hearing the number, worth about $800, activists chanted back: “More! More! More!” Klitschko replied that everyone would make their own contribution to the renovation of the cinema.
During the session earlier that day, council members listened to the demands of the activists, voiced by Tetyana Bezruk, a Masters’s student in political studies at Kyiv Mohyla Academy, a university located not far from the cinema. They included a thorough investigation into the crime and punishment of those who stand behind it. Activists believe the historical building should be renovated with public money and continue to function as a cinema with the current staff, not turned into a shopping mall by some investors. A special commission should be also launched to investigate numerous disputes and crimes over historical buildings in Kyiv.
It should be noted that a suspicious fire broke out in Hostynniy Dvir, another historical building in the Podil district on Feb. 9, 2013, amidst a long dispute between representatives of business and the local community, and is still awaiting investigation.
Zhovten is one of the last public cinemas in Kyiv. Its building is rented by Kinoman company, which is locked in an 11-year-old court dispute over its rent contract with city authorities. Some activists suggest that the fire might be connected with this dispute and alleged attempts to privatize the lucrative property.
City council members agreed to ask the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the Zhovten fire. A criminal case has been already opened for arson.
Also, the council members promised to find money in the city budget to renovate the cinema.
“Investor is a way to privatization. We don’t need this,” Yuriy Levchenko, a city councilmen from the Svoboda party, said at the rally.
According to Mayor Klitschko’s deputy Hanna Starostenko, the cinema building is insured for Hr 4 million and the movie-showing equipment – for another Hr 1.5 million. However, this money most likely will not be enough to rebuild the cinema – the main hall and roof are ruined.
To renew the cinema, the council members also agreed to create a charity headed by cinema director Lyudmyla Gordeladze.
Gordeladze has been the director of Zhovten for 14 years and transformed it from a declining, Soviet-era cinema with a single screen into a popular, retro-style theater with seven screens that show arthouse and independent movies apart from Hollywood and Russian films.
To raise money for the cinema Gordeladze plans to sell movie tickets on the internet starting next week.
“This will be an investment,” she said at the rally. “After renovation the theater will welcome you to the screenings for these tickets.”
The Zhovten cinema was built in the constructivist style, making it a rare gem in Kyiv’s architectural heritage.
