Presentation of a Documentary Film at Ostryk Liceum

On March 7, 2024, Ostryk Liceum of the Mahala Territorial Community hosted the presentation of the updated version of the documentary film "Only Those in Love Will Survive: Traian Popovici and Others." The film was created as part of a project by the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation, with financial support from the RoAid International Development Cooperation Agency.

The film highlights the heroic actions of Chernivtsi Mayor Traian Popovici, who, in 1941, managed to save several thousand Jewish residents of Chernivtsi from certain death. In 1969, Israel honored him as a Righteous Among the Nations, recognizing his exceptional efforts in rescuing 20,000 Jews from deportation to the death camps in Transnistria.

This documentary presents the stories of Chernivtsi residents during World War II, revealing why "love" is the most important word in war and why stories of rescue are more significant than those of destruction. The storyline is based on the book "Confession. Biography. Testimonies" by Dragoș Olaru and Serhiy Vorontsov, which explores the life and legacy of Traian Popovici.

The documentary was produced as part of the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation's project, "Counteracting the Distortion of Holocaust History through the Promotion of a Cultural and Educational Initiative: Local History through the Stories of Symbolic Figures – The Righteous Mayor of Chernivtsi." The project was financially supported by the RoAid International Development Cooperation Agency.

Creative Team

• Project Manager: Serhiy Hakman
• Co-author & Scriptwriter: Serhiy Vorontsov
• Co-author, Director & Cinematographer: Vyacheslav Khabaylo
• Actors: Ivan Danilin & Oleksiy Hryhorchuk
• Cinematographers: Vitalii Yaskevych & Volodymyr Khaliavka
• Editing: Andrii Dubinetskyi & Volodymyr Khaliavka
• Literary Editor: Olesia Andriichuk
• Translators: Ludvyha Tsurkan, Fedir Andriiesh, Olga Sharagova

A special thank you to Liceum Director Nikoleta Dubets for the excellent organization of the film screening!