![Hedgehog Hedgehog film image](https://images.viff.org/uploads/2023/08/Hedgehog_Still-1_X.jpg?resize=600%2C337&gravity)
Amidst the war in Ukraine, a young girl is taken to stay with her grandmother. In the shack outside, she discovers a badly wounded Russian soldier. This is a quiet film about the human side of war and how compassion can make concepts like good and evil that much more complicated. The choice to help him despite being from warring countries is at least partially due to her youth, but it allows for the realization that the other is a person and more than just an inhuman enemy. It is beautifully made, shot and directed, which along with strong performances make every scene captivating. There are probably multiple interpretations behind the title, my favourite being the metaphorical ’Hedgehog’s Dilemma’ about the difficulties of intimacy at the risk of harming or being harmed, something that is highly applicable to this circumstance.
Community Partner
Emma Pearson, Elina Golde, Vladimir Varakossov, Nadia Lupiwok, Yurij Brailko
USA
2022
In Russian and Ukrainian with English subtitles
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits
Executive Producer
Todd Burbage, Reese Cropper, Dave Messick, Olivia Gelfand
Producer
Citlalli A. Ruiz, Dave Messick, Simona Calin, Glen Reynolds
Screenwriter
D. Mitry
Cinematography
Mark David
Editor
Chris Witt
Production Design
Deidra Catero
Original Music
Ali Helnwein
Director
![D. Mitry D. Mitry headshot](https://images.viff.org/uploads/2023/08/Hedgehog_directorheadshot_D.Mitry_.jpg?fit=50%2C40)
D. Mitry
D. Mitry, born in the former Soviet Union, achieved early success with off-off Broadway plays and at the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Leaving a 17-year business career, he pursued his filmmaking dream in 2015. His short films won multiple awards at international festivals, including the acclaimed Shade of Music on PBS. Tragedy struck in 2017 when his only daughter, Alyssa, passed away, inspiring him to create My True Fairytale. Released in April 2021, the film gained global recognition and premiered at Cinequest in March 2021.