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“Why Ukraine”: preview of BHL’s film at the Cinema Le Balzac
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.

“Why Ukraine”: preview of BHL’s film at the Cinema Le Balzac

Photos by Romain Baltz

Close to the ground, from the front line to the civil resistance, Bernard-Henri Lévy films the war in Ukraine and urges Europe to act. A poignant immersion that resounds like a call for help, in the name of democracy. A call that resounded at the Cinéma Le Balzac, near the Champs Élysées in Paris, where BHL presented his film Pourquoi l’Ukraine with his crew, in front of a packed house.

From the first days of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian army, BHL went to the field and has not stopped going back. With the help of a small Franco-Ukrainian crew, he filmed the resistance at the gates of Mykolaïv and the dead of Boutcha; the petrified Kiev and the insurgent Odessa; the metamorphosis of President Zelensky and the civilians of Borodyanka, ordinary heroes; the city of Zaporijja suspended from the assault, protecting its nuclear power plant, and then a forgotten front line on the road to Marioupol; the young American veterans of the mysterious Mozart Group; the final interview of a free man entrenched, 60 meters underground, in the galleries of Azovstal; or the trajectory of the missile which, on March 2, fell on the site of Babi Yar…

Already present with the same crew, in February 2014, alongside Ukrainian democrats, in the early days of EuroMaïdan the writer-philosopher goes back in recent history to dive into the long months that lasted the Commune of Kiev; in the trenches of Donbass, in 2020, facing the imminence of the war.

Testimony of a committed intellectual, this subjective film, shot in the emergency, is a call to action to help Ukrainian democracy: it is available on the website Arte.tv, until December 13, 2022.

Cinema Le Balzac in Paris where Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel's film "Why Ukraine" was previewed, June 22, 2022.
Cinema Le Balzac in Paris where Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel’s film “Why Ukraine” was previewed, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy before the screening of his film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy before the screening of his film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Final checks for Bernard-Henri Lévy before the screening of his film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Final checks for Bernard-Henri Lévy before the screening of his film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Emily Hamilton, producer of the film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Emily Hamilton, producer of the film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy with Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenko.
Bernard-Henri Lévy with Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenko. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris, before the screening of their film: "Why Ukraine".
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris, before the screening of their film: “Why Ukraine”. Photo: Romain Baltz
Marc Roussel and Bernard-Henri Lévy in front of the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, before the screening of their film: "Why Ukraine".
Marc Roussel and Bernard-Henri Lévy in front of the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, before the screening of their film: “Why Ukraine”. Photo: Romain Baltz
Marc Roussel, Ara Toranian and Bernard-Henri Lévy, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", in front of the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Marc Roussel, Ara Toranian and Bernard-Henri Lévy, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, in front of the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Alain Madelin at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Alain Madelin at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Jérôme Seydoux, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Jérôme Seydoux, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Christine Angot at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and David Martinon, French ambassador to Afghanistan, at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and David Martinon, French ambassador to Afghanistan, at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy, Régis Jauffret and Julia Levy-Boeken, at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy, Régis Jauffret and Julia Levy-Boeken, at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Kendal Nezan, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Kendal Nezan, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Laurence Haïm, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Laurence Haïm, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Laurent Joffrin, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Laurent Joffrin, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Maurice Szafran, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Maurice Szafran, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Olivier Jacquin, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Olivier Jacquin, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Romain Goupil, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Romain Goupil, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Catherine Millet at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Catherine Millet at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Jean-Pierre Kalfon at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Jean-Pierre Kalfon at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Félix Macherez, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Félix Macherez, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Jean-Michel Blanquer, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Jean-Michel Blanquer, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy with Princess Patricia de Belsunce d'Arenberg and Jean-Paul Enthoven, during the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy with Princess Patricia de Belsunce d’Arenberg and Jean-Paul Enthoven, during the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy before the preview of his film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy before the preview of his film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin with Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenk, on the stage of the Cinéma Le Balzac during the preview of the film "Why Ukraine".
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin with Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenko, on the stage of the Cinéma Le Balzac during the preview of the film “Why Ukraine”. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Packed house at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris for the premiere of BHL and Marc Roussel's film "Why Ukraine".
Packed house at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris for the premiere of BHL and Marc Roussel’s film “Why Ukraine”. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy presents his film "Why Ukraine" at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy presents his film “Why Ukraine” at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris, June 22, 2022. Photo: Romain Baltz
Presentation of the film "Why Ukraine" by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew: Gilles Hertzog, Eric Dahan, Emily Hamilton, Olivier Jacquin, Natalie Gryvnyak, Marc Roussel, Francois Margolin.
Presentation of the film “Why Ukraine” by Bernard-Henri Lévy and his crew: Gilles Hertzog, Eric Dahan, Emily Hamilton, Olivier Jacquin, Natalie Gryvnyak, Marc Roussel, Francois Margolin. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel present their film "Why Ukraine" at the Cinema Le Balzac.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel present their film “Why Ukraine” at the Cinema Le Balzac. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin, at the preview of BHL's film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin, at the preview of BHL’s film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinéma Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin, producer of the film "Why Ukraine", at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris.
Bernard-Henri Lévy and François Margolin, producer of the film “Why Ukraine”, at the Cinema Le Balzac in Paris. Photo: Romain Baltz
Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenk before the screening of Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel's film "Why Ukraine".
Ukrainian activists Daria Tsykunova, Kateryna Prokopenko, Alla Samoilenk before the screening of Bernard-Henri Lévy and Marc Roussel’s film “Why Ukraine”. Photo: Romain Baltz

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