Richmond Park’s own George Ryga will be remembered and celebrated during a screening of the 22-minute short documentary Just a Ploughboy, set to play at the Ukrainian Centre in Edmonton Jan. 25.
Written, produced and directed by Athabasca filmmaker Gina Payzant of Reel Mensch Studios, the film is about how the land and its people shape the writer who in turn shapes us.
Payzant said if people care about their hearts and their souls, then they should care about this film.
“If we care about who we are, then we will understand how Ryga captured a reflection of humanity,” she said. “He held up a mirror, and if we don’t like what’s in the mirror, don’t blame George Ryga.”
Born in 1932 near Richmond Park and later moving to Summerland, B.C., where he remained until his death in 1987, Ryga’s work was influenced by his time growing up in the Athabasca area.
Payzant said Ryga is a voice for the voiceless, and that this documentary will preserve Ryga’s life essence through his contributions to literature and culture for future generations.
“How do you describe this man that really cared?” she said. “He wasn’t really accepted, but isn’t that the way it is with people of genius?”
Besides his most well-known play, The Ecstasy of Rita Joe, Ryga authored poems, several novels, screenplays, wrote lyrics for two albums, along with other plays. Ryga’s work is still read and performed internationally.
Payzant also pointed out in an email that the Ukrainian Centre is the intellectual hub of Ukrainian cultural activity in Alberta. She noted there will be speakers such as Myrna Kostash, famous nationally for her book, All of Baba’s Children.
“George Ryga is really important in Canadian theatre history and I was concerned his voice would be lost,” said Payzant. “The Just a Ploughboy DVD is just about finished, and people can get that through the reelmensch.com/studio.”
The screening will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Ukrainian Centre, located at 11018 97 Street in Edmonton.
