Olga (15) with introduction by Pat Kelman, Film Distributor

 

UK cinemas have united in support of Ukraine with a series of preview charity screenings of Olga, a new film about a young female Ukrainian gymnast forced to train in exile. From each ticket sold, a donation will be made to support Ukraine, with cinemas nominating which charity receives the donations on their behalf. The previews are a result of a partnership with 606 Distribution and the BFI Film Audience Network, with support from the UK Cinema Association.

 

A talented teenage Ukrainian gymnast exiled in Switzerland dreams of Olympic gold in Elie Grappe’s multi-award-winning drama. Fifteen-year-old Olga is trying to fit in with her new team in her new home. But as she prepares for the European Championship, the Ukrainian people stage a revolution. Olga is left a powerless, distant bystander as her mother, an investigative journalist, faces danger as she challenges a brutal regime. Can Olga reconcile her personal goals with the history unfolding in her homeland? A subtle, tensely handled tale of exile reflecting the pressures on young athletes, the clash between the personal and the political, and young woman’s search for who she is and what she is prepared to sacrifice.

"Olga is a heart-rending story that centres around the search for a sense of belonging, a place that one could call home”

Maggie Gogler, View of the Arts

 

“A surprisingly emotional and raw exploration into the intricacies of politics and family”

Cruz Morey, into:screens