Film Lens
Kalinovski Square is a documentary by Yury Khashchavatski that examines the 2006 re-election of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus. The film critiques the election results, which claimed that 83 percent of voters supported Lukashenko, referred to as 'Europe's last dictator.' It features protests that erupted in response to the perceived fraudulent election, particularly centered at October Square in Minsk, renamed for Konstanty Kalinowski.
The film incorporates extensive archive material to illustrate the official propaganda and the perspectives of ordinary people in rural areas. It also addresses the repression that contributed to the failure of the Jeans Revolution. The narrative style is reminiscent of Michael Moore, providing a critical lens on the political climate in Belarus during this period.
Why Watch
- •See the protests in Minsk after the 2006 election.
- •Find out how propaganda shaped public opinion in Belarus.
- •Meet director Yury Khashchavatski, a persecuted filmmaker.
Did You Know
•The film was originally titled Плошча, or Plošča.
•Kalinovski Square was distributed under the title The Square before its DVD release.
•Yury Khashchavatski faced persecution from Belarusian authorities since 1996.
•The film won the Award Ion Vatamanu at the CRONOGRAF festival in May 2008.
Perfect For
Belarusian politicsDocumentary film loversPolitical activism