Family, Oral History
Margaryta Maliukova
Between Satan & Beelzebub, It Is Sometimes ...

Transcribing and translating the interviews for Baba Babee Skazala was fascinating in many ways. I was impressed by the courage, stamina and cheerfulness of the Ukrainian refugees, and the good humor they brought to their harrowing and heart-rending stories. I was impressed, also, by the deep pride they exhibited in their Ukrainian heritage, and their fluent command of our language. But perhaps the most striking part about these stories was the interviewees’ decision to leave the Soviet Union and settle (if only impermanently) in Nazi Germany...

Between Satan & Beelzebub, It Is Sometimes Worth Choosing
Always Golden, Filmmaking, Inspiration, Oral History
Matej Silecky
California, Heart & Home

Projects like Baba Babee Skazala are often as much about self-discovery as they are about discovering others’ stories. Preparing to do oral history interviews in Los Angeles really brought that point “home” in many ways. Leaving UC Berkeley, California & driving to LA - start of the cross-country road trip.

California, Heart & Home
Always Golden, Inspiration, Oral History, Dance
Matej Silecky
"Turangawaewae" - Standing Place

"Baba Babee Skazala" may have had its genesis when I was born (more on that in a later blog post), but I think it was really birthed as I came of age. Two and a half years ago, at the University of California, Berkeley, I auditioned for and enrolled in Berkeley Dance Project 2014. I could only dance in one piece because of my skating schedule - the piece was "Turangawaewae," choreographed by Jack Gray. This was perhaps providential.

"Turangawaewae" - Standing Place

Displaced Persons

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Between Satan & Beelzebub, It Is Sometimes Worth Choosing

,
Between Satan & Beelzebub, It Is Sometimes Worth Choosing

Transcribing and translating the interviews for Baba Babee Skazala was fascinating in many ways. I was impressed by the courage, stamina and cheerfulness of the Ukrainian refugees, and the good humor they brought to their harrowing and heart-rending stories. I was impressed, also, by the deep pride they exhibited in their Ukrainian heritage, and their fluent command of our language. But perhaps the most striking part about these stories was the interviewees’ decision to leave the Soviet Union and settle (if only impermanently) in Nazi Germany...

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The First Big Push - Orthodox Easter & Oral History Interviews in Florida

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The First Big Push - Orthodox Easter & Oral History Interviews in Florida

We arrived in Ft. Meyers, Florida mid-day on a Thursday afternoon. Nothing special. Or was it special?

"Baba Babee Skazala"  is a fiscally sponsored project of the International Documentary Association (IDA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization.

"Baba Babee Skazala"  is honored to be a recipient of a Grant from the Ella Lyman Cabot Trust.

"Baba Babee Skazala"  is made possible in part by a grant from the Ukrainian Community Foundation of Philadelphia, a charitable foundation established by the Ukrainian Selfreliance Federal Credit Union.

Kitsune Tale Productions LLC is honored to collaborate with the Ukrainian Museum-Archives to establish an archival repository for interviews completed as part of "Baba Babee Skazala" .