One day, Roman, Nastya, and their two children are enjoying a relaxing vacation in Tenerife. The next, Russia invades their homeland, Ukraine, and the world has shifted beneath their feet. Their newfound status as refugees insidiously, inexorably heightens the tensions typical of any family holiday. The war underwrites their every interaction. While trying to distract their young son and deal with their teenage daughter’s newfound rebellious streak, Roman and Nastya’s marriage is put to the test.
Elliptical in style but unflinchingly honest, this Polish-produced film effectively conveys the Ukrainian family’s maelstrom of emotions—grief, fear, confusion, animosity, depression, self-doubt, lust for revenge, and greater sympathy for other dispossessed strangers. Director Damian Kocur wields the absurdity of being in a holiday destination when your home is under siege to tremendous effect. His brilliant narrative gambit results in a truly unique and invaluable perspective on the Ukraine crisis.
Supported by
Sofia Berezowska, Roman Lutskyi, Anastasiia Karpienko, Fedir Pugachov
Poland
2024
In Ukrainian, Spanish, English, Russian, German and Wolof with English subtitles
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Indigenous Access Tickets Community Access Tickets Ticket Donation Requests
Credits & Director
Producer
Mikolaj Lizut, Agnieszka Jastrzębska
Screenwriter
Damian Kocur, Marta Konarzewska
Cinematography
Nikita Kuzmienko
Editor
Alan Zejer
Production Design
Aleksandra Markowska
Damian Kocur
Damian Kocur is a director, scriptwriter, cinematographer, and a PhD student at the Łódź Film School. His debut feature film Bread and Salt (2022) was awarded the Special Jury Prize in the Orizzonti competition at the Venice Film Festival 2022, Cairo IFF, Antalya IFF, Cottbus Film Festival, and many more. His last short film As It Was was nominated for the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2023.
Filmography: Bread and Salt (2022)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
A Sad and Beautiful World
This Lebanese love story chronicles the romance between a level-headed businesswoman and a romantic restauranteur across several decades in wartorn Beirut. It's funny, charming, melancholy and you'll feel it all.
How to Divorce During the War
Screenwriter Vytus is left reeling when on successive days his wife demands a divorce and Russia invades Ukraine. Blazevicius' masterful feature emerges as an engrossing satire about virtue signaling, nationalism, good intentions, and survival modes.
Edie Arnold is a Loser + Q&A
Loaded with breakneck gags in the spirit of Scott Pilgrim, but with a distinctly female-centered point of view, Megan Rico and Kade Atwood's hilarious teen comedy hits VIFF Centre on its 16 city whistlestop North American tour. Filmmaker Q&A.
The Sun Never Sets
At the suggestion of her much older (divorced) boyfriend, Wendy (Dakota Fanning) takes a summer to reevaluate her life and date other people. She's reluctant at first, but then reconnects with an old flame... A gentle indie comedy from Joe Swanberg.
Hanging by a Wire
The Himalayas, Aug 22, 2023: a cable car bearing 8 passengers (six of them schoolkids) is left dangling 900 feet above the ground when two out of three cables snap. This nailbiting documentary recounts the increasingly frantic rescue attempts.