- September 23, 2024
- 7:37 pm
- Ukraine
This year marks the 31st anniversary of the premiere of Bobe Mayses, the first animated film in Ukraine based on Jewish folklore. It was a brilliant directorial debut by Elena Kasavina, which received many awards and was recognized as the Best Animated Film of Ukraine in 1993.
For thirty years, director Elena Borisovna Kasavina dreamed of “Bobe Mayses” appearing on screens again, but this time in Ukrainian.
Thanks to the joint efforts of the creative team, the film company “MaGika – film”, Dovzhenko Center and with the support of Ukrainian Cultural Foundationthe film was digitized, restored and re-dubbed. This required significant efforts to preserve the original image and sound quality, as well as adapt the material to modern requirements.
He told about this Cinema club “Created in Ukraine”
The long-awaited premiere of the restored version of “Bobe Mayses” is scheduled for the fall of this year, 2024. This event promises to be an important milestone for both animation lovers and anyone interested in the cultural heritage of the Jewish people in Ukraine.
The Plot of “Bobe Mayses”
“A small Jewish town (shtetl) in Podolia, perhaps two hundred years ago… Busy Jews with their “funny miserable everyday life” and noble thousand-year-old traditions. Early in the morning we go to the famous Rabbi Eli to learn the amazing story of the prophet Eliah. But… Vanity Vanity and all sorts of Vanity… Many different events happen here on the eve of the Sabbath… …
The film is based on the works of Shalom Aleichem and Jewish folklore.”
“Bobe Mayses” is an animated film about the life of Jews in Eastern Europe. The plot is based on folk tales and folklore elements, depicting the daily life and traditions of the Jewish community. The main character, Bobe Mayses, is an old man who shares his wisdom and life experience with young people, passing on important lessons about friendship, love and moral values.
The film is filled with humor and warmth, showing how folk customs and tales are preserved and passed down from generation to generation. Each story told by Bobe Mayses illustrates basic principles of life, making the film not only entertaining but also educational.
Significance for Jewish and Ukrainian cultures
The revival of Bobe Mayses is of particular importance to both Jewish and Ukrainian cultures. For the Jewish community, it is an opportunity to preserve and transmit a rich cultural heritage that has been compromised by historical trauma and persecution. The film is an example of how folklore can unite people and preserve their identity.
From the Ukrainian cultural perspective, Bobe Mayses represents a bridge between the traditions of different nations, reflecting the diversity and variety of Ukraine’s cultural landscape. In the context of modern challenges such as conflicts and geopolitical tensions, such projects help to strengthen cultural ties and mutual understanding.
Importance in the modern context
In light of the current conflicts, including the war in Ukraine and the threats emanating from Russia, the importance of cultural interaction is particularly relevant. Effective cooperation between Israel and Ukraine in the fields of culture, art and education can serve as an important tool in countering common enemies such as anti-Semitism, extremism and attempts at destabilization.
Cultural initiatives such as the restoration of Bobe Mayses create a platform for dialogue and understanding between peoples, which is especially important in difficult times. They help not only to preserve cultural heritage, but also to form new relationships based on respect and shared values.
Voice of “Bobe Mayses”
It is symbolic that the voice of the film project is the outstanding actress Ada Rogovtseva. She shared her impressions of the film:
“This material. I liked it right away. I read it at night, smiled and wanted the morning to come and I to go to work. The film is wonderful, thorough, with great humor. And serious, and philosophical. The animation is wonderful. For me, this is a thorough work,” said Ada Nikolaevna.
She noted that this work is extremely important, especially now, when we live in conditions of a hybrid war.
Experts' opinion
Oleg Olifer, a popularizer and researcher of Ukrainian cinema and animation, now a serviceman at NSU, explains why this project is so significant: “This is truly an event for Ukrainian animation. Perhaps even a precedent, and in time we will be able to see Ukrainian versions of other Kyivnaukfilm classics, which are currently only available in Russian.”
The film's producer Gennady Kofman adds: “When there is open military aggression against our country, when the enemy is actively waging an information war, spreading fakes about Nazism and anti-Semitism, which supposedly reign in Ukraine, I consider the return of an animated film based on Jewish folklore to be a very influential tool in overcoming Kremlin propaganda.”
Elena Borisovna Kasavina
Elena Borisovna Kasavina was born on April 17, 1952 in Bila Tserkva, Kiev Oblast, Ukraine. She is one of the most significant figures in Ukrainian animation, having earned recognition as an animator, director, and artist.
Kasavina received her education at the architecture department of the Kyiv Art Institute and completed a two-year animation course at the Kyivnaukfilm studio. She then continued her studies at the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors in Moscow, where she received a degree in animation film director.
From 1983 to 2008, Kasavina worked in the Kyivnaukfilm art animation association, and since 1993 she has taught animation at the Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television. Elena Borisovna is a laureate of numerous international awards and a member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine.
Filmography
Animation artist:
- “How Petrik Pyatochkin Counted Elephants” (1984)
- “Lullaby” (1984)
- “The View” (1984)
- “Doctor Aibolit” (1984-1985, 4, 5, 7 episodes)
- “From the Life of Birds” (1985)
- “Sampo from Lapland” (1985)
- “The Find” (1986)
- “Hardworking Grandma” (1986)
- “My Friends, Where Are You?” (1987)
- “Window” (1987)
- “Where are you, my horse?” (1988)
- “Treasure Island” (1988)
- “Three Panki” (1989)
- “Aeneid” (1991)
Director:
- “We Are Women: Unbelievable” (1988, screenwriter; directorial debut)
- “Bobe Mayses” (1993, co-written with E. Kirich; cartoon based on Jewish folklore)
- “Imagine” (2013, Jewish fairy tale) — cycle “Mountain of Gems” (Russia) and others.
Conclusion
The revival of Bobe Mayses is not only a return to the history of Ukrainian animation, but also an important step in preserving cultural heritage. This event will draw attention to Jewish culture and its contribution to Ukrainian art, which is especially relevant in light of modern cultural exchange and integration. The premiere of the restored Bobe Mayses will be a celebration for everyone who appreciates animation art and is interested in the cultural traditions of Ukraine. It is expected that this film will inspire a new generation of animators and viewers, and will serve as a bridge between cultures.
this is still an old version – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJ_yimFNEOM
