In Ukraine

Participatory observation and observation from a distance. This is what Piotr Pawlus and Tomasz Wolski shared, together creating a poignant report from a country gripped by war.

The former traversed Ukraine in the footsteps of full-scale Russian aggression, while the latter supported from afar and brought the perspective of an observer from the sidelines. The result of this collaboration is a portrait of a country where life amidst the ruins is becoming the new normal. Ukrainian civilians have been forced to leave their homes or live in a state of heightened risk overnight.

The degradation of space does not negate the existence of everyday necessities. The static frames of Pawlus and Wolski’s film provide an insightful look into these ordinary-unusual moments. There are currently many documentaries reporting on the various shades of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The two Poles have managed to methodically and perceptively show the scale of the destruction and the everyday problems of living in a ruined landscape of civilians.

Discussion after the movie

Overlooking war: the ordinary lives of ordinary people in the midst of ruins.

panelists: Kateryna Kozlova, Natalia Romik and Piotr Pawlus

moderated by Kacper Kępiński

Screening partner: European Parliament Office in Wroclaw