'I am your brother': Richard Gere sends powerful message to Ukrainians
Richard Gere (photo: Getty Images)
The video used a translation by Roman Ivashkiv and Erine Moure.
RBC-Ukraine, which brings together well-known people from around the world to support Ukraine, organized a recording in New York featuring Richard Gere. The American actor, Golden Globe winner, and star of Pretty Woman and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale recorded a video for Ukrainians ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Gere read the poem “Another” by Ukrainian poet Yurii Izdryk. The video used a translation by Roman Ivashkiv and Erine Moure.
“I’m talking to you today from New York City and sending my best regards. Today I want to recite a poem by Ukrainian poet Yurii Izdryk. To the people of Ukraine, all of you, I send my warmest greetings and my complete and unwavering support. Congratulations on Ukraine's Independence Day. I remain by your side. I am your brother,” Richard Gere said.
RBC-Ukraine said they were grateful to the actor for taking part in the project and separately highlighted how well he pronounces the final line of the poem in Ukrainian.
“Five years into the full-scale war, every voice that reminds the world about Ukraine carries enormous significance,” said the organization’s co-founders Yaroslava Hres and Yuliia Solovei.
According to them, preparations for the shoot took quite a long time. RBC-Ukraine team worked with the actor's representatives, but until the very last moment, they did not have final confirmation that the project would go ahead.
The situation became clearer after Richard Gere gave an interview to Latvian television in June. At the time, the actor revealed that he was working on reading a poem by a Ukrainian poet. Ukrainian media later reported the news, helping the team confirm that the project had been confirmed.
The video was filmed at Ukrainian House in New York, which, according to RBC-Ukraine representatives, turned out to be the perfect location for the project.
