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15th DMZ Docs(2023)

I AM DOCU



We Will Not Fade Away

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Alisa KOVALENKO

  • Ukraine, Poland
  • 2023
  • 100min
  • G
  • DCP
  • color

Korean Premiere

Synopsis

In this seemingly bleak wartime setting, five teenagers start to seriously think about their future. Their energy, enthusiasm, and hope allow them to fully live out their last golden hours of childhood despite the circumstances. They dream of escaping not only from the war but also – like teenagers all over the world – from the boredom of a small town. Then, unexpectedly, an opportunity arises to embark on a long journey all the way to Nepal. Will their dream of conquering the world come true?

Review

 The backdrop of this film is the Donbas region, which was once one of the largest heavy industrial areas in the world during the mid-20th century. However, it gradually declined, and by the end of the 20th century, its industrial structure had nearly collapsed. In 2014, the region became a battleground as Ukrainian government forces clashed with pro-Russian separatist forces advocating for Donbas' independence. In the 2022 war between Russia and Ukraine, Donbas emerged as a critical focal point. The adolescents from Donbas, raised in a region marked by faded industries and ethnic conflicts, can, in the words of one character, feel "stuck in the year 2014." The worries of adults for these youths, who spend time in an uncertain future, remaining seemingly trapped in that period, are a universal sentiment that transcends societies. Yet, as scenes depict distant sounds of shelling behind the images of these adolescents, the weight of the time they are caught in appears particularly heavy. However, despite this, these young individuals prepare for a Himalayan group journey, aiming to liberate themselves from the history of war by flying freely and stepping outside, leaving behind the shackles of conflict. As the ending credits roll, we learn that the Russia-Ukraine war continues to hold their time hostage. We fervently support the efforts of these youth to escape from the frozen time and sincerely hope that their journey toward a time unbound remains successful. 

Director

  • Alisa KOVALENKO

    Alisa Kovalenko is a Ukrainian award-winning filmmaker, who was born and grew up in Zaporizhzhia. Her debut feature-length documentary Alisa in Warland, premiered at IDFA 2015. Home Games, a social drama following a young female soccer player, screened first at Sheffield Doc Fest 2018, at IDFA again, and in over 120 festivals. We Will Not Fade Away had its world premiere in competition at the Berlinale 2023.

Credit