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CPH:DOX Opens with Ukraine's Untold Story
28 Jan
Summary
- Documentary Mariinka captures over a decade of conflict in eastern Ukraine.
- It follows young Ukrainians whose lives were shaped by ongoing war.
- The film premieres at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen, March 11-22.
The 23rd Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, CPH:DOX, will commence on March 11 and run until March 22, with the world premiere of the Belgian documentary "Mariinka." This film, directed by Pieter-Jan De Pue, has been in production for nine years and was shot on 16mm film.
"Mariinka" explores the lives of several young Ukrainians in eastern Ukraine over more than ten years of war and conflict in the Donbas region. The narrative focuses on individuals whose lives have been irrevocably altered by this prolonged period of strife.
It highlights diverse experiences, including a boxing talent turned paramedic and a girl smuggling goods across the frontline. A particularly poignant aspect involves two brothers fighting on opposing sides, while their youngest sibling finds safety in the United States with a foster family.
The film has garnered praise from Niklas Engstrøm, artistic director of CPH:DOX, who described it as a "remarkable cinematic achievement." He emphasized De Pue's nearly decade-long dedication to the story, focusing on lives shaped by a war that began long before it gained global attention.
Engstrøm further noted that "Mariinka" is a product of European co-production and has benefited from CPH:DOX's industry platforms. He stressed the film's significance in reminding audiences why documentary cinema matters, by confronting viewers with the complex human realities behind events often reduced to headlines, rather than offering easy answers.
