“The Magic of the Carpathian Mountains: Healing Ukraine through Nature, Culture, and Film,” a Lecture by Gromovytsia Berdnyk and Lesya Kalynska

Stretching from Central Europe to Southeast Europe, and through the Western regions of Ukraine, the Carpathian Mountains are sometimes referred to as “the lungs” of Ukraine due to their ecological significance. Rich in history and tradition, the region is considered among the many Ukrainian “places of [spiritual] power,” enhanced by its breathtakingly cinematic landscape. The filmmaker Lesya Kalynska and the writer Gromovytsia Berdnyk (also featured in Kalynska’s documentary-in-progress Before the Dawn) will talk about the healing power of Ukrainian nature, cultural traditions and creative practices. You will learn how the Carpathian volunteers and cultural activists help restore strength and calm to Ukrainian civilians and soldiers scathed by the Russian aggression. The event is free and open to the public.