Film Scholar Investigates Dovzhenko's Heirs: A Granddaughter in Ivano-Frankivsk?

Alexander Dovzhenko's Descendants

According to Главком: Film historian Serhiy Trymbach has revealed details about the potential descendants of the renowned Ukrainian writer and film director, Alexander Dovzhenko. According to his research, Dovzhenko may have had a son from his first marriage to Varvara Krylov, and a granddaughter who currently resides in Ivano-Frankivsk. Dovzhenko is a foundational figure in Ukrainian and world cinema, best known for his poetic silent films like 'Earth'.

Dovzhenko was married to Varvara Krylov, a teacher, but their marriage ended in 1926 after Krylov developed a bone disease. In 1928, he began a relationship with Yulia Solntseva, whom he later married officially. In the early 1950s, Solntseva pressured Dovzhenko to formally divorce Krylov.

Varvara Krylov was the mother of a son named Vadim Chazov, born in 1933 or 1934. After her split from Dovzhenko, Krylov taught in the village of Demydiv in the Kyiv region from 1937 until her death in 1959. Vadim Chazov studied at the Kosiv Art College and later taught at an art college in Ivano-Frankivsk. Serhiy Trymbach notes the existence of a letter from the 14-year-old Vadim Chazov to Dovzhenko, in which the boy shares his impressions of the film 'Michurin' and asks for money to buy a bicycle. Dovzhenko replied several months later, sending the money but also requesting a divorce.

'He writes that he and his mother watched the film 'Michurin,' which had just been released, and they were delighted. Then he asks for money for a bicycle. Dovzhenko replied a few months later. But how did he reply? He didn't just send money to Krylov; he asked for a divorce,' - Serhiy Trymbach

The correspondence between Dovzhenko and Krylov was conducted in Russian.

The Search for Descendants

The late literary scholar Volodymyr Panchenko, who died in 2019, asked Trymbach to find Chazov's daughter, Dovzhenko's probable granddaughter. 'Serhiy, when something happens to me, I beg you to find Chazov's daughter,' Panchenko said. Trymbach reported that through acquaintances, he managed to locate this woman in Ivano-Frankivsk, but she is not yet ready to meet with him.

Dovzhenko is buried in Moscow next to Yulia Solntseva. Serhiy Trymbach has worked with the archives of both Alexander Dovzhenko and Yulia Solntseva and is currently writing a play about Dovzhenko titled 'Dovzhenko and the Babas'. The mystery surrounding Dovzhenko's possible family remains unresolved, and Trymbach hopes for further investigation into this topic.

This information about Alexander Dovzhenko's potential descendants opens new avenues for researching his legacy and impact on Ukrainian culture. Reconnecting with relatives of the prominent filmmaker could be a significant step in preserving his memory and popularizing his work. Furthermore, it may inspire new studies to better understand Dovzhenko's personal life, creative journey, and his enduring influence on contemporary Ukrainian art.

As the investigation into Dovzhenko's descendants unfolds, it raises questions about his enduring impact on cinema and the legacy he left behind. To further explore the unresolved aspects of his life, including his final resting place and its significance, you can read more about the mysteries surrounding his burial site and how they relate to his cinematic contributions.