Parallel Realities in Russian and Ukrainian Contemporary Cinema

This book examines Russian and Ukrainian feature films to trace the roots and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It argues that the cultural war stems from a colonial past, where Russia viewed Ukraine as an inferior "little brother." By examining cinematic representations of the countries’ shared history, this book reveals how Russia has used cinema to promote a strong, unified state and patriotic narratives, while Ukrainian cinema seeks to overcome colonial trauma and build a distinct national identity. It also investigates how cultural memories of Kyivan Rus, the Cossacks, World War II, the Soviet past, and the Russian war in Ukraine are depicted differently in Russian and Ukrainian cinema.

Tetyana Shlikhar is an Assistant Teaching Professor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Slavic and Eurasian Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She holds PhDs in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh and in Translation Studies from Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv. Her research interests include Russian and Ukrainian culture, cinema, and memory studies.