The Stone That Spoke

The Stone That Spoke: an evening of short film screenings with interviews with the performers in Refugee Week.

What's important when you're on the move?

Ukrainian women relocated to East Sussex today due to the war explore a generation of trailblazing, decision-making eleventh-century female travellers whose lives mirror their own.

Four exquisite films filmed at stunning Sussex heritage sites connect Catherine, Elizabeth, Lidiia, and Viktoriia to Kievan Rus sisters Anastasia, Anne and Elisiv who became the queens of modern day France, Hungary and Norway (with further links to Austria, Germany and Poland) and Gytha of Wessex, the woman who travelled in the other direction to Kyiv when her father, King Harold of England, was killed in 1066.

Elizabeth exploring Anastasia 4.50"
Elizabeth takes an ironstone to the shore and cliffs of Hastings. At this medieval site, she channels Anastasia of Kyiv whose feet connected with stones in what is now Austria, Bavaria and Hungary where she was queen.

Viktoriia exploring Anna
Viktoriia takes a round pebble that she keeps in her pocket to Pevensey Castle. At this medieval site she thinks about Anne of Kyiv who trod a path from the Great Gate of Kyiv to Reims Cathedral where she became Queen of France.

Catherine exploring Elisiv
Catherine takes a banded flint to cliffs at Hastings Castle. At this medieval site she considers Elisiv of Kyiv who became Queen of Norway and might have become Queen of England if her husband, Harald, had not been defeated at Stamford Bridge in 1066.

Lidiia exploring Gytha
Lidiia takes a heart-shaped pebble found on the Sussex shore to Battle Abbey. At this medieval site, she reflects on Gytha of Wessex's flight out of England when her father, King Harold, was defeated in the 1066 battle on this site. GythaLidiia takes a heart-shaped pebble found on the Sussex shore to Battle Abbey.

Director: Rod Morris, in collaboration with project director Gail Borrow

Talks with the performers and filmmakers in between the films will consider life in changing times and share what becomes important to hold onto.

This project funded by Homes for Ukraine and supported by EUNIC London.