FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE At Sundance 2011

DOCUMENTARY: FAMILY PORTRAIT IN BLACK AND WHITE TO APPEAR AT SUNDANCE 2011

OLGA NENYA is a foster mother to SIXTEEN BLACK ORPHANS in Ukraine – where 99.9% of the population is white and where race DOES matter. Forced to constantly defend themselves from racist neighbors and skinheads, these children have to be on guard against the world that surrounds them.

No one is related by blood in this family, but everyone is connected by the color of their skin and by the woman who chose to be their foster mother. Olga is a loving mother but she is not Mother Teresa; she bears much more resemblance to a platoon leader. Some kids have learned to manipulate her, some obey, and only one constantly battles with her. Kiril, a 16-year-old boy nicknamed ‘Mr. President’ for his intelligence and effortless aristocracy, is the one who dares to openly argue with Olga – and pays dearly for it.

The modern world is interconnected: not only did the British Charity buy the house for the family, but these kids from a tiny place in Ukraine have been spending summers with host families in France and Italy year after year.  When European families offer to adopt the kids, Olga refuses despite being aware of what awaits a black Ukrainian beyond the protective shield of her family. For her, these children already have a family and, as she says, “The bird should only have one nest”.

This film is a multi-dimensional portrait of one family, the country they live in, and the bigger world they are a part of.

Sundance Screenings

Sun., January 23, 9:00 pm, Holiday IV

Mon., January 24, 6:00 pm, Holiday IV

Wed., January 26, 6:45 pm, Broadway Centre Cinemas V in SLC

Thurs., January 27, 2:30 pm, Holiday III

Fri., January 28, 8:30 am, Prospector Square Theatre

For more information please visit: http://www.familyportraitthefilm.com/