Light From the East Feature Documentary
Summer 1991 the Soviet Union opens its doors to the West and a troupe of young actors from the La Mama Theater in New York gather to participate in the first American/Ukrainian cultural exchange theater project in history. The troupe begins to rehearse the play “Light From the East”, a docu-drama that explores the life and work of the nationally acclaimed Ukrainian theater director Les Kurbas.  As the production nears, Gorbachev is kidnapped, the Kremlin is overthrown by a military coup, and the entire USSR is plunged into volatile uncertainty. As rehearsals progress the play ironically begins to mirror action in the streets. Kurbas and his company struggled to make art during the revolution that ushered in Communism; the American troupe performs the life of Kurbas as the walls of Communism come tumbling down. 

Director: Amy Grappell
Producer: Amy Grappell & Christian Moore
Cinematographer: Christian Moore
Editor: Kyle Henry & Leah Marino
SXSW Film Festival / SXSW Presents
www.lightfromtheeast.com