Yura

Being in Ukraine since the beginning of the full scale invasion, I’ve been struggling with internal and external conflicts. The hardest question I had to ask myself — should I stay in my home country, or continue my studies abroad? I study film directing in Warsaw, but have left the city for a gap year. Having had weighed all scenarios, and in suppressing the internal feeling of patriotism and dept to my family and country, I understood that my place is somewhere, where I could develop as a film director. Contribute to the growth of Ukrainian culture, urge it. I made the decision to come back to Warsaw.

Firstly, in order for me to come back to my studies, I have to make a film. Secondly, which was harder for me, men who are eligible for the army are banned from leaving abroad. The legal means of me leaving — documents of a student at a university in a foreign country. I went with these to the military commission.

I have repeatedly heard among acquaintances and read in the media that guys with the same documents receive rejections. I received my permission. The road to Europe has opened up. It remains to make a film. I internally felt that I have to shoot this film in Ukraine. Despite all the difficulties that would befall me, making a project in a country that is engulfed by war. Filming in Ukraine was supposed to be a sort of self-therapy for me. Do something here so that you are not ashamed to "run away" there.

The first that comes to mind, a documentary project, but I set myself a goal - a narrative film.

I settled on the idea of telling about "my war". On the idea without weapons, blood, violence, but no less important. Show a different perspective, not so visible to the average viewer. Tell about the weaknesses and fears that arise in ordinary boys during the war. I asked myself: “What would happen, if I wasn’t allowed to leave the country?”. This is how the script of “Yura” came to life.

I had no technical or financial support. Due to the lack of contacts in the field of cinema in Ukraine, I realized that I would have to operate the camera myself. It didn't scare me. This is an intimate project, self-therapy. I know how I want to tell this story.

I recruited friends and family to help me find actors, arrange locations, choose costumes, prepare food, and more. All of the actors, except “Uncle” — people who have never appeared in front of a camera. The policeman — my friend policeman. All of the locations — my dear district in Lviv. People, who have never worked on a film set, did a better job than professionals. Without such support from loved ones, I would have simply remained at the stage of writing the script. And now I am proud of us and this film.

I sincerely want this film to be seen around the world by as many people as possible. I want them to see this side of the war. I want to show that we are the same ordinary young people who fear, love, dream, joke, despite the fact that the enemy came to us with weapons.

Most importantly of all, I want to remind people about Ukraine. The war hasn’t faded somewhere quietly and will not fade. But, still, I have to pay my debt for leaving the country at such a time.