LOGLINE

Courageous activist, persecuted fighter, feminist icon. READ MY BREASTS is an intimate film portrait of FEMEN co-founder Inna Shevchenko. A poetic long-term documentary about the relentless price of uncompromising resistance, self-empowerment, and the undeterred struggle for a more just world.

SYNOPSIS

Icon of modern feminism, persecuted activist, tireless fighter for justice. READ MY BREASTS is an intimate film portrait of Inna Shevchenko, whose naked protest shook the world. Director Anja Salomonowitz has the FEMEN co-founder step into life-size photographs of her actions, literally returning to the scenes of her unique story. There, at the intersection of past and present, Inna speaks with unflinching honesty about the experiences that shaped her and nearly broke her. A poetic work about rebelling against patriarchal violence and power structures and the ongoing struggle for one's own history and life. Above all, however, the film tells of the strength to draw the power to change from one's own convictions. A powerful long-term testimony to female indomitability and the courage to raise one's voice louder than ever, even after setbacks.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Initially, I was working on a political documentary about Inna Shevchenko, both as an individual and as the co-founder of FEMEN. I admire Inna's intelligence and courage. I wanted her to talk about the past and visualise the moments she was describing. That's how the idea of placing her in the past came about. On our first day of shooting, Inna started to cry while talking about the torture she had endured. From then on, I adopted a different approach, getting very close to Inna, and she allowed me to do so. However, things steadily deteriorated from then on. Inna became disillusioned – as a fighter, as a woman, as a human being. By developments in the world and the violence she encountered. I documented this experience with my camera and in my settings. I made sure that each individual sequence illuminated a complete stage of life. Speaking in rhymes, lists and circles. So that you climb hill after hill with her. The film is not linear; it is a movement forward in waves that flow along these hills. There are valleys into which we fall deeply with her.
 

Inna carries her trauma through the film, just as she does through life. They say time heals all wounds. I've had to learn that this isn't always the case. However, there are muscles that help us endure wounds. We can train these muscles. Therefore I've included pink dumbbells in the picture for Inna.