EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
"Ї"
ESCAPISM AND SURVIVAL HAZE
Performative journey representing divergent ukrainian states of mind trapped in a dystopian valley.
SYNOPSIS
A reflective swamp is hiding an undefined structure within.
From this quagmire, some form is waking up, digging itself
out. Ukrainian soul is being resurrected. While covered in
mud, a figure starts to reveal itself. Rain exposes the
character. It is a woman wearing a distressed attire
reminiscent of military uniform and vyshyvanka.
She finds herself in an indefinite valley. It resembles
something between a sand mine and a battlefield. Surrounded by
the endless sand surfaces, sludge and industrial machines, she
discovers there is more beings trapped in the location. They
look similar to her but each of them has a specific way of
motion.
While moving/dancing around the valley, they present their
stories in the form of a monologue. One after the other.
There is a Ukrainian refugee who is a collective protagonist
representing both men and women living in the Western
countries, feeling guilty of being away from the homeland.
Another person depicts Children of War – Ukrainian kids who
were kidnapped by russian soldiers on the occupied
territories. The last story is presented from the perspective
of a Ukrainian guerrilla’s wife living close to Kherson.
Night is coming. A huge campfire burns in the middle of the
valley. All the figures surround the fire. They start singing
Ukrainian folk music. Parallelly, a final performance takes
place in the fog.
TEAM
MACIEJ KOWALEWSKI
OLEH SHYPKOV
JAKOB STARK
IRINA DZHUS
Director
Producer
DOP 023 Deutscher Kamerapreis winner for Best Camera
Fashion Designer