In 2016 Michael Fiore–in tandem with Erik Sharkey–earned a slot in SHOOT’s New Directors Showcase for Floyd Norman, An Animated Life, a documentary which told the story of Norman, the first African American animator at Disney, chronicling his career and ongoing impact on the filmmaking community.
Fast forward to today and Fiore’s penchant for telling human stories that are interesting unto themselves yet carry a greater consequence on the world at large is again evident in Veselka: The Rainbow On The Corner At The Center Of The World, a feature documentary which is currently playing in theaters in New York and L.A., vying for extended release with this weekend’s box office performance pending. It has already been extended three times — for a 4-week play to date — since it’s opening on Feb 23.
Written and directed by Fiore, Veselka: The Rainbow On The Corner At The Center Of The World tells the story of NYC’s beloved Ukrainian restaurant Veselka and its father and son proprietors, Tom and Jason Birchard. When Jason graduated college without a vision for his future, Tom brings him into the family business. Jason learns that Tom’s dedication to Veselka produces delicious food that satisfies a colorful cast of neighbors and newcomers, but this leaves little time for Tom to be “dad” at work.
In 2020 when the pandemic hit, Jason takes ownership of Veselka from his reluctant-to-retire father. He has large shoes to fill, but Jason’s biggest challenge becomes the war in Ukraine. He is unexpectedly thrust into the role of surrogate father to support his Ukrainian staff impacted by the war. Jason must explore his past working relationship with his own dad to “feed” his war-torn team as he keeps his business afloat.
Veselka has become a hub of support for Ukraine during the ongoing war. And that is fitting given the restaurant’s roots, started in 1954 by Jason’s grandfather who fled Russian oppression in Ukraine to make a new life in America.
Narrated by Golden Globe Winner and Little Ukraine NYC native David Duchovny, Veselka: The Rainbow On The Corner At The Center Of The World is a thoughtful exploration and celebration of family and community, chronicling Jason’s journey to connect with his loving yet detail-focused dad as he reignites his grandfather’s advocacy for Ukraine.
For 70 years, Veselka has been the vibrant and welcoming heart of the community and now its role, and Jason’s, is more vital than ever. And it’s more expansive as he explains relative to the Russian invasion, “Don’t think of this as a war on Ukraine. This is a war on the free world.”
The documentary has garnered stellar reviews. The New York Times wrote: “The film (in theaters now) starts as a fun story about a New York institution, and its tone is resolutely hopeful and convivial. But it rapidly becomes a demonstration of a community’s efforts to support loved ones under siege.”
A New York Post review read in part, “Veselka is a thorough and fun retelling of the spot’s storied past. NYC nostalgists will love it. But the movie surges with urgency when the war begins and Veselka instantly turns into a de facto second Ukrainian embassy. How inspiring it is to see the enormous difference a bowl of borscht and a cup of coffee are making right now.”
And Forbes exclaimed, “Veselka demonstrates the power of food and a particular community; however, every tenet of the film details ideas and themes that affect everyone.”
To see a trailer for the film, click here.
