Maidan (2014) User Reviews

Feels the moment but fails to explain it

[randywein-877-425608 · 6/10 · 9 January 2016]

Much of the raw emotion of Ukraine's revolution of dignity is reflected in this work, but the context is lost for lack of details. The result is a moving but disjointed telling "about" rather than "of" the three-month human drama that unfolded on the main square ("maidan") of the capital.

The rich personal panorama includes moving video clips of the people on the barricades as they worked, fought, and lived together in a community they created. In every face in every frame we see joy, sorrow, pain, exhaustion, anger, anguish, and above all hope. That alone will make this film worthwhile for many.

If you already know intimately the experience of Maidan, this film will satisfy. If not, I suggest you view the significantly better documentary "Winter of Fire." If then you want to see and feel even more, check out "Maidan."

Very slow but effective

[hallurg · 7/10 · 25 January 2015]

The documentary Maidan is a rather unusual film. Camera standing still, showing life, live action and there can be heard conversations amongst the people. This is what one would call minimalistic project.

The music does not get in the way, it is mostly live from the Kiev protests. This film would have gotten 4-5 stars if the ending had not been how it is. A male choral version of an Ukrainian folk song is played over one of the last scenes and that brought tears to my eyes.

The story of Maidan is a story that will be told over and over again because this matter will never be solved. There will always be struggle around the world because of the greed for power.

This is a film that is good for you to watch, just to realize how the power of politics can ruin nations and also make them stronger.

In the first meeting the coach had 2 mobiles how there mobile comes in that period pls see when he gets and he took the mobiles and left

[thecorporateassociates · 6/10 · 17 April 2024]

In that period from where mobile comes see in the first meeting when he leaves the meeting gets up took grabs 2 mobile in hand and left the meeting. In that period how there comes the mobile, this type of things lacking is not expected in a movie which have such great crew members. When ever a movie.is casted this things to be seen and all aspects like the period dress the equipment's all items Eveerything from all aspects to be checked it's a matter of art director the costume directors the directors all needs to see all the aspects n cast the movie this is not expected from such a crew teams.

superb and honest

[nikgem · 9/10 · 24 December 2014]

the last reviewer somewhat misses the point - history happens in real time and not in film time. Therefore, a brave documentary film maker who has come along with an honest and thoughtful film of the gradual events that took place in Kiev should be applauded for NOT rushing to over edit and make the events fit the way that . This is a smouldering view of history that leads the viewer across the optimism of political protest through to the blunting of a crushed national moment. The singing and re-singing of the national anthem is caught beautifully and helps explain the motivation and passion of the protesters. Ultimately, the power of this film is that it shows what a revolution or at least attempted revolution looks like from the inside. We do not have this for 1789 or 1917 but we have a bit of it now for Kiev.

Making history dull and unfathomable

[newz-75-67048 · 2/10 · 9 August 2014]

The professional reviewers find a lot of nice things to say about Maidan. What they don't tell you is how dull it is to watch. I went hoping to learn more about a contentious and important historic event and learnt only that its possible to make a film in which the makers don't edit out the bits where people wander into shot with their backs turned to the camera. I went with someone not knowledgeable about the events and they were bored and irritated by the absence of context. On the upside, i may now know the words to the ukrainian national anthem, which we are treated to no less than 3 times in full. Sorry. Maidan is a lost opportunity to this ordinary viewer's eyes.

See "Winter on Fire"

[johnbozeman · 1/10 · 26 April 2022]

"Maidan" is a series of long, raw videos that fail to come up with a story. Spend 60 seconds imagining a string of unedited home movies of a protest--in a foreign language with the occasional random subtitle. OK, done. You've saved yourself over two hours.

If you're interested in Maidan itself, catch "Winter on Fire" which cares about its audience and edits vignettes of participants into a moving portrait of patriotism: fearless, compassionate, and unbelievably strong. These were heroes. As they are today. They have my deepest respect.

It's free on YouTube, courtesy of Netflix.

Maidan is not The Square

[tonywohlfarth · 2/10 · 11 September 2014]

The Maidan is the most significant development in recent Ukrainian political history. A popular uprising overthrew a pro-Soviet dictator and promised democratic change. So a film of the same name, premiering at Cannes, arrived at the Toronto International Film Festival with much anticipation. Unfortunately, Maidan the film is a big disappointment: - the director provides no introductory perspective about the issue, the history of Ukrainian-Russian relations, nor the Orange Revolution; - the director's camera work takes long panning shots of the Maidan, again without any context or explanation; - the only comments in the first hour of the film consist of rhetorical speeches delivered in the square, without any attribution; The absence of any commentary leaves gaping holes in what should be a compelling story. The Maidan uprising is known to include fascist elements, Tymeshenko veterans, and a wide variety of extremists. None of these elements are explained in the film. Instead, what we get is running commentaries about volunteer assignments, cooks and activities of daily living. I went to see the Maidan to learn more about this historic event, and sadly, I came away knowing no more than I did before seeing the film. Maidan is not the Ukrainian equivalent of "The Square" and a big disappointment.

Important topic not presented in an interesting way

[jjshepherd-86542 · 4/10 · 31 October 2022]

The 'Maidan Revolution,' or 'Revolution of Dignity' as it is also called in Ukraine 2014 is an important topic because it has close connections with the current war between Russia and Ukraine right now in 2022. Unfortunately, this film does not do much more that show footage of the protests in that revolution then, when Ukrainians in the capital voiced support for closer ties with the European Union as opposed to Russia, as well as opposition to President Yanukovych. While anyone can look up the basics of that history, this movie does not do much more than show footage of the protests.

Find other ways to inform yourself of this important historical event of recent times, because this film won't give you much.