HOW THE COSSACKS animations: Ukrainian Film Week at FOMO Cinema Tbilisi

Volodymyr Dakhno | 1967-1970 | Ukrainian SSR | 1h00m | Presented in the original Ukrainian audio with English subtitles

HOW THE COSSACKS… brings together three classic Ukrainian animated shorts following the cheerful, resourceful and indestructible Cossack trio created by Volodymyr Dakhno. Fast, wordless, physical and wonderfully direct, these films helped turn the Cossacks into some of the most recognisable figures in Ukrainian animation.

This block includes HOW THE COSSACKS COOKED KULESH, HOW THE COSSACKS PLAYED FOOTBALL, and HOW THE COSSACKS FREE THE BRIDES. Across the three films, the Cossacks cook, compete, travel, outwit enemies and generally create trouble with the confidence of men who believe any problem can be solved with speed, appetite and teamwork.

The style is simple but beautifully effective and very distinctly different than the animations I grew up watching in "The West" in Australia. Dakhno uses exaggerated movement, clear silhouettes and comic rhythm rather than heavy dialogue, which gives the films a wide appeal across language and age. They belong to the golden period of Kyivnaukfilm, when Ukrainian animation developed its own visual personality inside the Soviet studio system.

Screening before EVENINGS ON A FARM NEAR DIKANKA and THE EVE OF IVAN KUPALO, this animation block opens Thursday’s Cossacks and Devils program with the lightest possible touch: folk humour first, Gogol’s devilry after.

You can also get a discounted double film pass for these animations and EVENINGS ON A FARM NEAR DIKANKA by visiting the Cossacks & Devils Tickets page

FOOD AND DRINK POLICY: FOMO Cinema Lounge Bar opens 1 hour before the first screening of the day and closes at 02:00,.serving a wide selection of beer, wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic refreshments including coffee and tea, as well as fresh hot popcorn! Outside food is allowed in the bar but not in the cinema. No alcohol from outside allowed. All guests are invited to arrive early and stay late!

LOCATION: FOMO Secret Cinema, Bazari Orbeliani, Tbilisi. A five minute walk from Liberty Square metro.

HOW TO FIND FOMO: Enter Bazari Orbeliani via Atoneli St above Carrefour and take the stairs on your left to Level 1. Signage on the door. You can also check our Instagram story highlights for a video showing exactly how to find us:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17933106294029235/