V. Sylvestrov

The film V. Sylvestrov consists of three parts, each dedicated to a different period in the life and work of composer Valentyn Sylvestrov. In the first part, we witness the maestro’s incredible perfectionism during the studio recording and rehearsals of his choral works.

In the second part, we hear Sylvestrov’s memories as he recounts to Serhii Bukovskyi his childhood during World War II, his early piano compositions, being at odds with his father, shrouded in scandal his expulsion from the Union of Composers, and his avant-garde explorations during the era of, required by the Communist authorities, socialist realism.

Finally, in the third part, we see the final rehearsal of the children’s choir Shchedryk at St. Catherine’s Lutheran Church in Kyiv, where Alleluia, one of Valentyn Sylvestrov’s most famous choral works, is performed.

In 2016, director Serhii Bukovskyi filmed the documentary The Leading Role, a story about an individual who lived their entire life in the world of art, which both saved them and also separated them from real life. This film was unlike traditional biopics, bearing a certain personal touch and resembling an intimate portrait and a small confession of love. The main character of the film was the director’s mother, actress Nina Antonova.

In 2019, Bukovskyi, using a similar approach, decided to create a series of films about prominent figures in Ukrainian history. He planned to make films about Lina Kostenko and Ivan Drach, but first, he created a portrait film of the legendary Ukrainian composer Valentyn Sylvestrov, who has captivated the world of classical and avant-garde music for many decades.

V. Sylvestrov is a film of contemplation and confession. Bukovskyi very delicately and lovingly delves into the world of Valentyn Sylvestrov. The film features his native Rusanivka, the small apartment where his most outstanding compositions were created, and numerous other significant locations. Along with this, Bukovskyi also reveals Sylvestrov himself from various angles: as a demanding and rigorous perfectionist who will stop at nothing to achieve the desired result; as a person who has gone through many trials, always finding solace in his music; and as a creator who, despite numerous difficult circumstances (historical, socio-political, personal), manages to produce music filled with true magic, lightness, and incredible beauty.