Ihor Pylypchuk’s Marathon is the title of a new documentary released by the Kontakt Studios jointly with 1+1. It premiered recently at the House of Cinematographers. Like other productions of the Our Contemporary on the Screen series, it attracted an audience quite impressive for a documentary. Of course, the film crew is strong, with director Oleksandr Frolov and narrator Ivan Havryliuk. But what also attracted public attention was the predominant tone of civic courage personified by the hero, Militia Colonel Ihor Pylypchuk, People’s Deputy and marathoner.
Indeed, every documentary of the Contemporary series is about people that, given inhuman conditions, find the strength to survive and reach their individual goals come what may. Most importantly, they manage to help others. Ihor Pylypchuk is one of these soldiers of life. As an investigating officer, he shouldered high-profile cases not because of ambition, but because he knew that too many people depended on his unbiased approach. Quite often his fair play would incur the wrath of superiors, but he always remained firm. Among other things, he put an end to the embezzlement of money earmarked for rescue operations and reconstruction in long-suffering Armenia after its unprecedented earthquake. He uncovered one of the most horrible crimes in Ukraine’s independent history: the illicit export of Ukrainian infants. 800 babies were smuggled out of Ukraine within just one year under the guise of adoption, and less than half were later located. The criminals used contacts in high places and would have continued with the scheme for God knows how long but for the militia colonel’s investigation. In addition, the current leaky legislation had no law stipulating punishment for such crimes. Pylypchuk managed not only to stop the death conveyor belt at Ukrainian maternity wards, but also had the legislature adopt punitive measures in record time.
Of course, solving such headline-making cases is just one of the aspects to Ihor Pylypchuk activities as an investigator and politician. In fact, the authors did not mean to come out with a promotional documentary. I think that in actuality they wanted to prove that decency and dignity stand a chance even when faced with the sheer lawlessness and rampant arbitrariness of officials. Of course, for people showing such decency and dedication, life is very difficult in this country. It is like an endless marathon. Yet evil is vulnerable precisely because of its rigid indifference, so he that runs will eventually win the race — if only he can summon up the strength.
