Shot in 2019, Alisa Kovalenko’s moving film follows the friends after they win a competition to travel to the HimalayasBefore Russia’s invasion in 2022, the eastern region of Donbas in Ukraine had already experienced some of the bloodshed that was soon to come on a much larger scale. Shot in 2019, Alisa Kovalenko’s moving documentary captures the restlessness and dread that hung over the small towns in then Ukrainian-controlled territory. At the same time, despite the misery of war, a group of friends dare to dream of faraway horizons.All in their late teens, Andriy, Ruslan, Ilya, Lisa and Lera win a competition to travel to the Himalayas. The exciting prospect of the trek, with the promise of majestic vistas and new encounters, starkly contrasts with their everyday reality where the sounds of bombs and gunshots are so commonplace that they barely warrant a reaction. At one point, the camera lingers on a bullet-ridden wall on which flowers and graffiti are drawn. This small but stri...
*We Will Not Fade Away* is a documentary by Alisa Kovalenko that follows five Ukrainian teens from the war-torn region of Donbas as they temporarily escape their dire circumstances to travel to the Himalayas. Shot in 2019, the film captures the resilience and hope of the group amidst the backdrop of ongoing conflict and economic hardship in their hometown. The teenagers’ journey contrasts sharply with their daily reality of war, offering a brief respite from the trauma and uncertainty of their lives. The film concludes with a poignant reflection on their fates, ending on a hopeful note with footage of the group smiling, symbolizing their enduring spirit and longing for peace.
