Depth
The documentary film Depth is a story about the crew of a fishing trawler stationed in Mariupol. The men spend most of their lives locked up inside an iron vessel when they go into the open sea. That is when their vulnerabilities are revealed. Their days are filled with monotonous and hard work. This work sucks the life out of them and doesn’t allow them to leave the city, which is caught between the threat of war and environmental catastrophe.
Recovery
Amid ongoing Russian attacks, Ukrainians are already rebuilding their country. International conferences discuss reconstruction plans, but most solutions are stalled, waiting for improved security. On the ground, life persists: students attend classes in bombed-out schools, surgeries continue in makeshift hospitals, volunteers repair shattered homes.This documentary examines rebuilding efforts across multiple levels, raising critical questions: How can rebuilding proceed amid constant destruction? What compromises emerge between local needs and global frameworks? How does Ukraine balance modernization and cultural preservation in the midst of war?The film follows diverse characters representing key forces in reconstruction. An architect facilitates public hearings on urban planning policies, navigating the tensions between ambitious visions and immediate necessities. A foreign investor launches pilot projects to test rebuilding strategies under wartime conditions. A global architectural firm designs an eco-friendly, modern city to replace one devastated by war.Essential community buildings—schools, hospitals, libraries—take center stage. The documentary tracks their transformation, from ruin to restoration.We also observe the rebuilding process through the eyes of an investigative journalist, as some current construction projects are drawing attention for their high costs and feasibility concerns. Volunteer groups repair roofs, replace windows, and create winter shelters, ensuring people have a place to survive the winter. Independent initiatives document cultural heritage destruction, preserving history for future restoration.The film delves into the emotional lives of those rebuilding amidst chaos—working, studying, and raising families. For them, resistance means living their normal lives in their country. Ukraine's reconstruction becomes not just physical but symbolic—a chance to emerge stronger and modernized, while grappling with questions about its future.