THE LONG-AWAITED PREMIERE OF BOBE-MAYSES ON YOUTUBE

The first and, to this day, the only animated film in Ukraine based on Jewish folklore appeared on screens 31 years ago. It was a brilliant directorial debut by Olena Kasavina, earning numerous awards and being recognized as the Best Animated Film of Ukraine in 1993.  

Shot on analog film, this unique artistic creation faced the risk of being lost forever. Furthermore, like most films of its time, it was in russian. For over three decades, the director dreamed that Bobe-Mayses would one day return to the screen—this time, in Ukrainian.  

Thanks to the joint efforts of the creative team, the film company "MaGiKa-Film," and the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, the film was digitized, restored, and given a new voice.  

Fittingly, the film's voice is that of the legendary Ada Rogovtseva.  

"This material... I liked it immediately. I read it before bed, smiled, and couldn't wait for morning to come so I could get to work. The film is wonderful, perfect, and full of great humor. It is serious, philosophical, and beautifully animated. For me, it’s a masterpiece," shares Ada Mykolaivna.  

This work holds extraordinary significance, especially now, as we live in hybrid warfare.  

Alik Shpilyuk, Ukrainian film critic and scholar, and a member of the State Film Council of Ukraine’s State Film Agency explains why this project is so important:  

"It’s essential for the finest examples of cinematic works from the late 1980s to early 1990s to be reintroduced into the Ukrainian cultural context. All elements of this film point to Bobe-Mayses as an outstanding example of Ukrainian animation. In my view, the restoration and adaptation of Bobe-Mayses into Ukrainian is an incredible achievement. I believe it could set a precedent for other films to be returned to the Ukrainian cultural space."  

The film’s producer, Gennady Kofman, adds:  

"During open military aggression against our country, when the enemy actively engages in information warfare, spreading lies about supposed Nazism and anti-Semitism in Ukraine, the return of an animated film based on Jewish folklore is, in my opinion, a powerful tool for countering kremlin propaganda."  

"This film is not only the work of a very talented director and an exceptionally skilled team but also represents 3,000 years of Jewish history," says Yosyf Zisels, public figure and dissident.  

Watch the animated film Bobe-Mayses on YouTube: 

The film’s restoration was made possible with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.