War Devours Ukrainian Town, Lives Echo in Haunting Doc

The 23rd edition of CPH:DOX opens with MARIINKA, a powerful documentary by Belgian filmmaker Pieter-Jan De Pue. Shot on 16mm film, the documentary provides an urgent and nuanced portrayal of Ukrainian lives irrevocably shaped by more than ten years of conflict. Filmed over an extended period, it predates the full-scale Russian invasion that ultimately decimated the city of Mariinka, leaving no civilians behind. The film focuses on several young Ukrainians whose lives have been profoundly affected by the war in the Donbas region. Among the subjects are a promising boxer turned military paramedic and a young woman who smuggles goods across the front lines to survive. The narrative also follows two brothers fighting on opposite sides of the war, while their youngest sibling resides with a foster family in the U.S. MARIINKA explores universal themes of family, belonging, memory, and identity, illustrating how national loyalties can supersede familial bonds. The documentary captures deeply personal stories, humanizing the conflict beyond political narratives. Director De Pue spent nearly a decade immersed in this story, focusing on the lives affected by a war that began long before it dominated global headlines. The film's world premiere at CPH:DOX on March 11, 2026, will feature some of the film's protagonists, including Natasha Borodynia and producer Anna Konik.