When Flowers Are Not Silent
Directed by Andrei Kutsila
2021Documentary72 minBelarus
Women caught up in Belarus's 2020 protests against Alexander Lukashenka share their sadness, bravery and resilience.
Synopsis
When Flowers Are Not Silent looks at the aftermath of protests in Belarus against the country’s long-standing leader Alexander Lukashenka – who in 2020 claimed more than 80% of all votes – after the European Union, local opposition and a large part of the population called foul on the election results.
Seen from the perspective of a series of women caught up in the protests in different ways (the film is dedicated to Kutsila’s sister and “all of the brave women protesters of Belarus”) it refrains from angry polemic and instead focuses on their sadness, bravery and resilience.
The director
Andrei Kutsila
Andrei Kutsila is a Belarusian documentary filmmaker trained in journalism and directing in Minsk. His earlier Summa won an award at IDFA, and When Flowers Are Not Silent won Best Documentary at the Warsaw Film Festival.
