Maidan (2014) - Sergei Loznitsa

Sergie Loznitsa's Maidan chronicles the civil uprising in Ukraine against the regime of president Yunukovych that took place in Kiev during the winter of 2013-2014.  Sergie Loznitsa's documentaries are incredibly naturalistic with absolutely no sense of tampering, with Maiden following the progress of the revolution.  the film begins capturing the peaceful rallies as they grow from a few thousand to half a million strong in Maidan Square.  Escalation is a major aspect of the film, as the protests grow, violence takes over, with bloodshed between protestors and riot police.  Maidan is a film that truly defines that adage "a picture is worth a thousand words', showcasing how far people are willing to go for their independence.  Full of powerful moments of tranquility and chaos, with thousands peacefully singing their countries anthem, to stark imagery when the protests are met with violence by Ukrainian police.  Juxtaposition is a major part of Maidan, showcasing how many people sleep on the streets and live in the area of the protest, overlying these images with power speeches by the leaders of the protest.  If there was any criticism to make about Maidan it would lie in the films length, as it feels the film could have been condensed a bit, but this really isn't a problem at all.  Sergie Loznitsa's Maidian is a powerful portrait  that is powerful and infuriating, capturing a countries people awakening, rediscovering their identity as a nation.

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