The unseen damage inflicted by war on personal relationships pushes war veteran Serhiy away from his family. Haunted by loss and war, he struggles to reconnect with his wife, Nadiia, and their three sons, Sasha (11), Artem (8) and Nikita (3). The film takes an unexpected turn when Serhiy turns the camera on the director herself. This role reversal creates a space for vulnerable dialogue about love and human relationships as the filmmaker shares her own experiences of a breakup with another Ukrainian war veteran. The trust and empathy built between the protagonist and the filmmaker not only convey war’s lasting emotional toll, but also showcase the healing potential of storytelling and documentary filmmaking.
Ukraine, Romania, Croatia 2024, '78
DIRECTOR: Lesia Diak
SCENARIO: Lesia Diak
CAMERA: Lesia Diak
MONTAGE: Andrei Gorgan
MUSIC: Margarita Kulichova
PRODUCERS: Lesia Diak, Monica Lăzurean-Gorgan, Elena Martin, Hrvoje Osvadić
PRODUCTION: DramaFree, Filmways, Petnaesta umjetnost
FESTIVALS & AWARDS:
Sarajevo FF (2024)
DocLisboa: Honorable Mention New Talent (2024)
Dharamshala IFF (2024)
Millenium FF (2024)
Fipadoc (2025)
DocFortnight at MoMA (2025)
Lesia Diak
Lesia Diak is a Ukrainian film director and producer. Her short films, which have garnered recognition at international film festivals, explore themes of genuine human connections, inner conflict, trauma and healing.
With a background in Communication, Diak expanded her expertise by graduating from DocNomads international documentary film directing Master’s programme in 2022.
She established DramaFree, a film production company dedicated to creating author-driven movies. Under this banner, she produced her feature-length documentary debut, Dad’s Lullaby, a Ukrainian-Romanian-Croatian co-production.
Currently splitting her time between Lisbon and Kyiv, Diak continues to create thought-provoking content that resonates with audiences worldwide. Her work reflects a commitment to authentic storytelling and a deep understanding of the human condition, positioning her as a rising talent in the world of independent cinema.
