The characters of the famous Russian series are speaking Russian… for now. This production was made using Ukrainian subtitles. But the Ministry of Culture has ordered all the films in the foreign language to be dubbed in Ukrainian. 

In Ukraine, legislation from January 2008 requires films to be dubbed. However, cinemas continue to broadcast Russian films with the original soundtrack. TV-channels either synchronize or dub only a small number of Russian films — all others are shown with Ukrainian subtitles.

One member of the ruling party says the existence of the law violates the rights of Russian-speaking people in Ukraine. And their number in the country is more than 25% of the population — 12 million out of 48 million.

He calls for broadcasts to be allowed in Russian without dubbing, and even foreign films dubbed in Russian to be shown as well.

 [Vadim Kolesnichenko, National Deputy of Ukraine]:

“This is the market. A person is buying what he wants. If in the Eastern parts of Ukraine cinemas close because people want to see Russian films and they cannot do it, I think it shows the market is not saturated.”

But sociologist Valeriy Khmelko thinks the question of broadcasting Russian films with the original soundtrack is not limited to a social issue. He says that Ukrainian politicians use this question to manipulate the electorate.

 [Valeriy Khmelko, Kiev International Institute of Sociology President]:

 “The opposition between politicians on this matter is partly related to the language, and even more it is related to the relations of Ukrainians to Russia, on the one hand, and Western Europe on the other hand. And language is an index of different political attitudes.”

But political ambitions are only one side of the medal. Today Ukraine gives too little funding for dubbing although the quality of Ukrainian recording studios is considered to be very good.

This studio only dubs films for the cinemas. The most difficult and expensive operation is mixing the sound. As a result they receive the sound needed for broadcasting in cinemas — Dolby Surround.

[Alina Gaievska, LeDoyen Executive Manager]:

 “We have the certificate of Premier Studio, Dolby Premier Studio. There are only 11 such studios in the world. So I think we make very good sound.”

Not all the visitors of the cinemas in Ukraine are happy with the fact that all the films are shown in Ukrainian.

 [Tatiana Ushakova, Ukraina Cinema PR Manager]:

 “I have some friends who don’t go to the cinemas anymore because of Ukrainian dubbing.”

 [Alexandr Zarovniy, Political Analyst]:

 “It is better to watch the films with the original sound. I think that films have to be shown in two languages: Russian and Ukrainian.”

 [Alexandr Aganov, Student]:

 “I think this is good innovation and very proper, one of the best. It is very pleasant to watch the films with Ukrainian dubbing because the language is beautiful.”

The newly elected government of Ukraine is introducing changes. The new president promises not to make Russian the second national language. He will allow office work and education for Russian speaking people in their native language.

But whether he is going to allow the films in Russian is still unclear.

NTD News, Kyiv, Ukraine.