A stark new documentary offers an unflinching, ground-level view of the human cost of the war in Ukraine, filmed by a director who lived the events he captures. 'A Poem for Little People', directed by Ivan Sautkin, provides a visceral portrait of life on the frontline and the perilous work of civilian evacuations.
Through the Lens of an Evacuation Volunteer
Ivan Sautkin is not merely an observer; he served as a volunteer with the humanitarian team he documents. The film is his one-man effort, shot without interviews, explanatory voiceovers, or traditional narrative framing. This immersive, sometimes challenging approach places the viewer directly in the moment.
The film follows the team, led by the unflappable Anton, as they navigate the deadly landscape of eastern Ukraine. In one raw sequence, volunteers confront a woman reluctant to abandon her home despite nearby explosions. She cares for her paralysed brother and her German shepherd. The team's patient assurance that they will carry her brother and welcome the dog finally convinces her, a moment punctuated by a brusquely wiped-away tear.
The ethical weight of their mission is ever-present. In another desperate situation, the team evacuates an elderly woman over shattered, potholed roads, openly questioning whether the agonising journey itself is the right course of action.
Defiance on the Russian Border
The documentary's second strand shifts to a town near the Russian border, focusing on two elderly friends and neighbours. Zinaida, a neat woman in her eighties, transforms her flat into a spy post. Peering through her net curtains, she meticulously logs the number of invading tanks and relays the intelligence to the Ukrainian army.
Upstairs, her friend Taisia wages a different kind of war, writing poems that lambast the Russian forces. Their quiet, determined resistance underscores the film's central theme: there are no 'little people' in this conflict, only individuals facing profound choices with immense courage.
A Testament to Unfiltered Reality
A Poem for Little People is a work of raw trauma and desperate situations, distinguished by its first-person authenticity. It forgoes polished commentary to present a stark, unfiltered record of volunteer heroism and civilian resilience. The film is a powerful testament to the everyday reality of war, far from the headlines.
The documentary 'A Poem for Little People' will be available to stream on the True Story platform from 23 January.
