The Story

Lina is the main character of the documentary and it’s through her mother Alyona that the audience learns about the story of Lina and her family. It’s an intimate account of what Lina has to go through when the war arrives at her house. And, as Alyona says at some point, Lina saw everything. Lina’s life and that of her family are turned upside down. Russian tanks arrive in the neighborhood and Russian soldiers patrol the streets. Ukrainian schools have to close down. Electricity is cut off. Men get conscripted. Supply of food and water stops, the nearby forest burns down and Lina and her sisters are not allowed to play at the river, in the garden or at  the playground anymore. Life is confined to the house and the basement during constant attacks. When Alyona gets asked what Lina missed most, she says at some point: “Everything. The world”. Under pressure from Russian troops to surrender her children, Lina’s parents decide they must flee Russian occupation. With the help of underground volunteers and Save Ukraine Lina and her family eventually reach Ukraine after a dangerous journey through the Russian “filtration system” - checkpoints at which the Russian military interrogates Ukrainians. Lina’s father gets interrogated for hours and Lina starts crying - eventually, the Russians release her father and the family travels onward to Ukraine. 

When the family finally is able to move into their own house in Podilsk, the extent of Lina’s suffering comes to light: Lina pays the price of the two- year- long isolation under Russian occupation with a second degree speech impediment that makes it difficult if not impossible for people to understand her — during a session at Ukraine’s largest Children Hospital, Ohmatdyt, the doctor asks Lina’s mother about the time during the occupation and recommends psychological as well as speech therapy. 

And Alyona? Alyona tries to hold everything together, carries the memories of her Kherson home with her while constantly being confronted with new challenges - not least the war that continues to follow them. 

Lina’s story is the story of Ukraine, and Alyona’s struggle is the story of Ukraine’s mothers. The mothers are the backbone of this country and their children the future. This film shows the audience what enormous sacrifices girls like Lina and mothers like Alyona are forced to make in a war that they did not start nor want. 

It’s upon all of us to help them in their fight for a normal, peaceful life: Please share Lina’s story on social media, host  a screening for fundraising and/or donate directly,