Experiencing Interruptions?

Relocation

A young Ukrainian woman in New Zealand tries to relocate her mother and sister from Ukraine during the first weeks of a full-scale war which started on February 24, 2022.

  • Sergey Sushinskiy
    Director
  • Sergey Sushinskiy
    Writer
  • Sergey Sushinskiy
    Producer
  • Robert Vinson Milne
    Music Composer
  • Alina Polkova
    Key Cast
    "Anya"
  • Grae Minors
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Marlene Pooley
    Key Cast
    "Woman"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 12 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 2, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    New Zealand
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English, Ukrainian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Sergey Sushinskiy

I am a self-educating filmmaker based Christchurch (previously in Dunedin). In 1992 for the first time I thought of making films as my profession. It wasn't possible. Internally I was trying to return to this topic: while I was studying engineering, working at university and advocating for healthcare regulations I filmed for my friends. In 2018 I realised that I didn't lose my wish to make filmmaking as my profession and began to read books and articles about screenwriting, directing, editing, lighting, sound design and camera operating. In 2020 I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2023, for the first time, I made a short film for submission to film festivals, this is the film "Relocation" - about the relocation of a Ukrainian family from Ukraine to New Zealand in the first weeks of the war. I have little experience behind me, but I see that now I can fulfil my childhood dream of making good films without any fear. I hope that one day, looking back and remembering myself at the age of 5, when I first wanted to make cinema my profession, and going through all the past years, I will say: "this little maneuver cost me 51 years."

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The film "Relocation" is: 1) about the invisible connection of people, their destinies, about the fact that people who find themselves in a similar situation are ready to help each other; 2) about the war in Ukraine and how it kills people, destroys destinies, leads to the resettlement of many, using the example of one family; 3) about the efforts of New Zealanders to help people in such a difficult situation; 4) that we are surrounded by mysteries, but sometimes we can lift the veil of secrecy and see at least one layer of their internal structure - one layer of explanation of how incredible events occur - because to our love, because to how deep and complex this feeling really is. This film is important to me, because as a Russian citizen, born and raised in Moscow (Russia), I feel responsible for what is happening. I see that on behalf of the country in which I was born and lived for the first 34 years, tens of thousands of people are being killed, cities are being destroyed, an occupation is being attempted. I would like to remind everyone once again about what is happening in reality through the means that are available to me, cinema.