Théâtre de la Ville in Paris Hosted the Grand Opening of the Ukrainian Season in France
The French will discover Ukrainian cinema, music, literature, visual arts, and theater
The Gaze reports on it according to Ukrinform.
The slogan of the Ukrainian season was “culture strikes back,” and it was opened by Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska.
“Culture builds bridges where there were none before, creates understanding through feelings, through sound itself, and establishes dialogue even without words. Therefore, I am very glad that today we are creating a new dialogue, building new bridges, because we are opening the Seasons of Ukrainian Culture in France,” Olena Zelenska said in her speech. She also recalled that during the full-scale invasion, more than 2,000 Ukrainian museums, libraries, theaters, and cultural sites were damaged or destroyed. At least 200 artists were killed.
“Against this tragic backdrop, it is important for us that their—our—heritage is preserved and reaches people,” added the first lady.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo emphasized that Parisians have shown solidarity with Ukrainians since the first day of the aggression, and that the city's theaters and galleries have provided shelter to many Ukrainian artists.
The opening ceremony was also attended by France's First Lady Brigitte Macron, the foreign ministers of Ukraine and France, and renowned French actors and directors such as Juliette Binoche and Bernard-Henri Lévy. The latter took part in a panel discussion alongside Oscar-winning director Mstislav Chernov.
The Ukrainian season in France was made possible thanks to the French Institute and its office in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Institute and its representative office in France, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of France, the Ministries of Culture of France and Ukraine, the embassies of Ukraine and France, and cultural institutions in France and Ukraine.
As the Gaze reported earlier Discover Ukraine Online: Museums and Heritage Tours