“February 24, the famous 24… we will never forget it. Eliza Olkinitskaya, artist and animation filmmaker, has just sat down, still out of breath and embarrassed by her (small) delay in meeting. His shortness of breath also betrays his pain; Russia’s invasion of Ukraine leaves her speechless. Not without ideas, since she agreed to join a spontaneous movement called Animators Against War. More than 180 individuals take a stand for peace, like her, by drawing a film.
“We believe that only peaceful means are acceptable to resolve conflicts between countries. What is currently happening in Ukraine is a real tragedy, reads the group’s manifesto. We call for an immediate halt to military action […]. We demand respect for the territorial integrity of Ukraine! »
Eliza Olkinitskaya is Russian, Montrealer for ten years, since the “political context” pushed her outside her country. Now, since the “famous” day 1 of the war started by Putin, she wonders if this other political context will not bring her back to Moscow.
“I find it difficult to be away. Here, people continue their normal life. For me, the normal has stopped, she explains, in excellent French. I live a physical reality and a mental reality. It’s hard. »
The “digital manifestation” – these are the words of the UQAM graduate – of Animators Against War takes the form of a series of very short animated films (between
5 and 10 seconds). Published on YouTube, the first series repeat film after film the same slogan, in Russian: “No to war”. The documentary platform Tënk has agreed to broadcast them for free. “It seemed important to us to support this collective, which believes in peaceful means to resolve this type of conflict, and to give it a voice”, says Gabrielle Ouimet, artistic director.
Don’t be silent
” It’s really important [de passer] the message that many Russians are against the war. The Russians are not Putin,” insists Eliza Olkinitskaya. The hands she has drawn hold a banner that unfolds and reveals, with the back of the camera, the map of Russia.
She is one of the expats who joined Animators Against War. But most of the members live in the country. We have attached two.
“I am against this horrible war and I want to shout it from the rooftops,” wrote Sasha Fendy in her email. Once in front of the computer camera, she will repeat much the same thing: “I can’t stay silent. I am for peace, peace, peace. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak. She knows she risks going to jail if someone catches her in the wrong. A “no to war”, and even the single word “war” are reviled in the public space. “I’m not afraid,” says the film student.
It’s really important [de passer] the message that many Russians are against the war. The Russians are not Putin.
Olga (not fictitious) prefers to conceal her true identity, but wanted to testify. “I can’t believe that there can be people in my country who consider this situation to be normal, who agree with our president. They say war is bad, but this is not war, she said. I had to do something, draw something. »
The group of these pacifist filmmakers formed on the Telegram network, the safest of all, according to Eliza Olkinitskaya. However, it was concluded that the slogan that accompanies the short films should be changed, removing the word “war”. “If I can be imprisoned for saying ‘No to war’, then I will say ‘I want peace’. Can I be arrested for this? I will hide in the forest, ”says Sasha Fendy without really believing it.
Despite the threat, and tics of nervousness, Olga and Sasha will continue their activism. The risk is worth it. “I believe that art can change the way of thinking,” says Olga, who hopes the group’s films reach her compatriots.
They live more than 3000 kilometers from each other. It reassures them that at the other end of the country, people share their opinions. “When it all started, says Sasha, I woke up like in the middle of a nightmare. I didn’t know what to think, until I received the invitation to participate in [Animators Against War]. It’s what gets me up every morning. »
In her film, Olga, who draws frame by frame (stop motion), wanted to remind us that war is equivalent to a “sea of blood”. Sasha Fendy instead opted for a message of peace and drew a bird and a twig. “I wanted to share some love and send this little bird to Ukrainians,” she says.
“We have no illusions. Animated cinema will not stop the war, tempers Eliza Olkinitskaya. But we need to support each other. Art saves the soul. »