Documentary Tip of the Week: Can You Hear Me?

The film offers a rare look into the lives of Ukrainian military medics, following their journey from the frontlines of war-torn Ukraine to a serene retreat in the forests of Sweden.

Through this intimate portrayal, Farrell and Zashko shed light on the immense psychological toll these medics endure while saving lives in the midst of a brutal war. The film explores their attempts to heal and reflect, addressing the mental health challenges that are often overlooked in the shadow of war.

"Ukraine’s story of resistance to Russia’s war of aggression is and will always be a story of people," says co-director Francis Farrell. “People who stepped forward to defend their country when nobody gave it a chance of survival; people who lived through horrors simply unimaginable for most of us, and people who have simply not stopped fighting for almost three years. These people are not faceless robots, they cannot be expected to simply continue forever, and the scars they wear are not always on the outside.”

The documentary will premiere in Kyiv on Oct. 12 and is now part of a European-wide impact screening tour aimed at fostering dialogue and raising awareness. As part of this tour, the film will be screened at City Kino Wedding in Berlin on Dec. 14, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Get your tickets here

"It’s important to show this documentary to people across Europe because they need to understand the price of being an independent country," says co-director Olena Zashko. “Ukraine has shown that this price is immense—thousands of lives. Our main goal is to show that the war is still ongoing and is not only concerning Ukrainians. It’s about the future of Europe.”

For those unable to attend in person, the film will also be available on the Kyiv Independent’s YouTube channel. This Human Rights Day, it stands as a poignant reminder of the human toll of war.