The Tragedy of Carpatho-Ukraine
Cast & Crew
Vasile Avramenko
Film Details
Synopsis
In the city of Khust, leaders of the recently formed Carpatho-Ukrainian government meet at their new capital building. Prime Minister Dr. Augustin Woloshyn is meeting with other statesmen in a conference in which they plan to negotiate with leaders from the surrounding Slavic nations, including the Ukraine's former occupiers, Czechoslovakia and Poland. Hordes of young people, anxious to support the fledgling nation, volunteer for the army, which sadly has no weapons. As the men train, their discipline and professionalism grows. News of the establishment of Carpatho-Ukraine is met with great joy by Ukrainian Americans who offer support and money to their struggling brothers in the old country. Meanwhile, in Khust, the Carpatho-Ukraine Sojm (congress) meets to hasten the declaration of its independence. The Sojm's Oath of Office is read in Ukrainian, Czech, and Roumanian, and the twelfth of February is established as the Day of Independence. The Sojm passes laws, sings the Ukrainian national anthem, and by secret ballot unanimously elects Dr. Woloshin as its president. Woloshin gives a rousing acceptance speech, which includes his principle that "Faith is the strength of the individual and the strength of the people." The Sojm then makes several decrees: Ukrainian is established as the national language; a flag is adopted, as is an emblem, the trident of St. Vladimir the Great; and a national anthem is selected. Woloshin vows that the Ukraine's strength to repel her enemies will come and that aggressors of the new nation will be fought until vanquished.
Film Details
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
According to NYSA records, this film was made in New York City. Although a print was not viewed, the above credits and plot summary were taken from a translated dialogue continuity deposited with the NYSA. The film recounts the brief period of the independent Ukrainian state, Carpatho-Ukraine, established in 1938 when Czechoslovakia granted the region autonomy. At the time independence was proclaimed in Carpatho-Ukraine, Hungary had already begun an occupation that was to last throughout World War II. The film opens with a history of the Ukraine from the ancient state of Kiev to the establishment of Carpatho-Ukraine and depicts the customs, religion and culture of the Ukrainian people.
It is not clear from the cutting continuity whether the scenes of the Carpatho-Ukrainian "Sojm," or congress, located in the city of Khust, are re-enactments or documentary footage of the proceedings. The leaders of the Carpatho-Ukrainian state that the film features include Prime Minister Dr. Augustin Woloshin, Minister Julian Revai, Augustin Stephan, Dr. Mihailo Brasschaiko, Dr. Stephen Kotcherhan, Dr. Stephan Rossocha, Colonel Yefframeev, Feodor Revai, Captain Belay, and Dr. Vladimir Kamarinsky. The narrator states that the film seeks to assist "general Ukrainian striving for national emancipation" and that the current Ukrainian independence movement is neither "pro-German, nor anti-American, nor anti-British."
