Directed by Yelizaveta Smith, Simon Mozgovyi, Alina Horlova
This documentary explores the human experience of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, following civilians and soldiers whose everyday lives have been transformed by war. The film examines survival, loss, resistance and the ways people adapt to living in a constant state of conflict.
I thought this documentary was very good. I left the screening with so many questions about the creative process. Visually it looked stunning, but also challenging, in the sense of how hard it must of been to film certain moments. I like the idea that there was no linear narrative, because it meant that rather than focusing on a particular narrative, the viewer can be immersed themselves with the sound world and the picture on screen
During the Q&A, Simon, one of the three directors, spoke about the challenges they faced while filming and the mental impact the experience had on them. The sound design was astonishing and incredibly powerful. I also managed to have a quick conversation with Simon, where he explained the role of the music and the process behind creating the film’s music and sound world.
For example, he explained that one part of the sound process involved leaving large microphones in a forest on the front line for four hours to record everything happening around them. He described some of the sounds heard on the front line as “unforgettable.” The result of this approach was a soundscape built from real, live recordings, which made the experience feel incredibly immersive and real as a viewer. It demonstrated to me how powerful authentic sound can be when used to place an audience directly within an environment.
I also noticed that the music took a minimalist approach, acting more as an underlying tone throughout the film rather than being at the forefront. I found this to be an interesting creative choice, but ultimately a very effective one. Simon explained that sometimes music can disrupt the immersiveness of a project, particularly when the soundscape is already so powerful and authentic. In this case, the restraint in the music allowed the real-world sounds to remain the focus and helped maintain the sense of realism and immersion throughout the film.