Film Lens
White Horse is a short documentary that follows Maxym Surkov as he returns to his hometown of Pripyat, Ukraine, for the first time in twenty years. Surkov was evacuated from Pripyat in 1986 due to the Chernobyl disaster and has not been back since. The film captures his emotional journey as he revisits his old home, which has been stripped of its belongings by looters. Among the remnants, he finds personal mementos that evoke memories of his childhood, such as a white horse poster and an old rubber ball.
The documentary begins with filmmakers Maryann DeLeo and Christophe Bisson driving through Kyiv, setting the stage for their arrival at the exclusion zone. Once in Pripyat, Surkov's pain is palpable as he confronts the loss of his past. He expresses a desire to stay in his old apartment and marks the significance of the date April 26th, the day the Chernobyl disaster occurred. The film concludes with a moving moment as Surkov leaves the apartment complex, symbolizing his departure from a painful chapter of his life.
Why Watch
- •See Maxym Surkov's emotional return to Pripyat.
- •Find out what remains in his childhood home.
- •Watch the impact of Chernobyl on personal lives.
Did You Know
•Maxym Surkov was evacuated from Pripyat in 1986 due to Chernobyl.
•Surkov returned to Pripyat after 20 years away from his home.
•The film was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2008.
•Maxym Surkov died from a heart attack in February 2008, shortly after the film was completed.
Perfect For
Chernobyl historyDocumentary enthusiastsUkrainian culture