Tribute Paid to Femen's Cofounder Charlène Favier
Oksana Shachko, a key figure in the Ukrainian freedom movement and a co-founder of the provocative women's rights group Femen, is the subject of a new film titled "Oxana - My Life for Freedom." Directed by Charline Favier, the film offers a compelling portrayal of Shachko's life, her activism, and her complex personality.
Born in Ukraine, Shachko was instrumental in shaping Femen's identity. She was not only a founder but also contributed as an artist by creating the group's religious and political iconography, including its signature slogans and symbolic imagery painted on the activists' bodies. Her background as an artist influenced the group’s strategy to use powerful visual protests as a form of feminist expression and civil disobedience.
Femen gained international media attention for its radical tactics, combining feminist and political messages with highly visual, often nude demonstrations aimed at shocking public opinion and media worldwide. The group, which originated in 2008 to fight against sex tourism and prostitution, became known for its topless protests against all forms of discrimination and oppression.
However, Shachko's life was not without hardship. She and her comrades were beaten and tortured in prison in Russia before arriving in Paris in 2013. Despite these challenges, Shachko continued her activism, making a significant impact on contemporary feminist activism by pushing the boundaries of traditional protest methods.
Charline Favier, the director of the film, did not know Shachko before being approached to tell her story. Favier, who founded her own production company at the age of 24, envisioned the film as a living painting, with Shachko at the center, surrounded by light. To bring this vision to life, half of the film was shot in Paris and half in Budapest, with Ukrainian-looking locations found in Hungary by the Ukrainian co-producer.
To prepare for the role of Oksana, Albina Korzh, the actress chosen to portray Shachko, immersed herself in photos of Shachko and Femen, talked with Shachko's loved ones, and watched videos and documentaries featuring Shachko. Korzh, who is strong and fragile like Shachko, often worried about her loved ones during filming due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The film also features refugees, brought onto the team to help capture the Ukrainian spirit. Reflecting the complexities of Shachko's personality, the film portrays a woman who held religious values while also being an activist against the church system, and who loved men while being a refugee without papers.
"Oxana - My Life for Freedom" is set to be released on July 24 and promises to be a powerful exploration of Shachko's life, her activism, and her enduring impact on contemporary feminist activism. Despite its controversial methods, Femen and Shachko's work have helped bring renewed visibility to feminist and human rights issues and inspired similar activism globally.
[1] "Now: The National Organization for Women," Encyclopædia Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/National-Organization-for-Women
[2] "Women's Suffrage Movement," Encyclopædia Britannica, www.britannica.com/topic/womens-suffrage-movement
The film "Oxana - My Life for Freedom" delves into Oksana Shachko's life, her activism in war-and-conflicts and politics, and her significant influence on general news as a key figure in the Ukrainian freedom movement and co-founder of the provocative women's rights group Femen. The vivid portrayal of Shachko's life spans her artistry that contributed to Femen's identity, radical tactics, and ongoing impact on contemporary feminist activism.
