Documenting Cxema

Yarema Malashchuk and Roman Himey documented Cxema, the biggest rave in Ukraine, born after the revolution in 2013-2014. The party offered the new generation a chance to reclaim the city, to explore it and to express themselves. The film was shot at Dovzhenko Film Studios on 21 April 2018. With a very careful and discreet camera presence so as not to disturb the experience, we slowly synchronize with filmed ravers and the music of Stanislav Tolkachov. By watching dancing individuals and crowds, we embody the dance of Cxema and exit through the smoke. The filmmakers provide us with an intimate experience of daytime outside of the party, following wandering youth. (Uppsala International Short Film Festival)