FILMS WE LIKE has acquired Canadian rights to WHEN FLOWERS ARE NOT SILENT, winner of Best Documentary at the 38th Warsaw International Film Festival, directed by Belarusian director Andrei Kutsila. Kutsila’s documentary is a powerful, compassionate look at the protest movement against the presidential elections in Belarus.
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 as the film is dedicated to Kutsila’s sister and “all of the brave women protesters of Belarus,” Kutsila’s documentary refrains from angry polemic and instead focuses on their sadness, bravery and resilience.
A portion of money raised from film screenings will be donated to Solidarity Zone in support of war zone journalists.
About Andrei Kutsila
Andrei Kutsila (1983) was born in Belarus where he graduated in journalism and fine arts. He deals with the current political and social situation in his country as a documentary filmmaker and freelance journalist. He received the Best Medium Feature Documentary Award at 2018 IDFA for his film Summa.
About Films We Like
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Drive My Car, The Jump and Wife of a Spy.