Wołyń

She is to marry a Polish widower. When the war breaks out, the Soviets occupy Volhynia and proceed to terrorise the villagers. In 1941 the Wehrmacht initiates the genocide of the Jewish people: these atrocities by the occupying powers are accompanied by acts of violence committed by Ukrainian nationalists: they are fighting for independence. For centuries the Ukrainian majority was subject to Polish dominance, now the time for revenge has come. Surrounded by brutality, Zosia can only try to take care of her children, as well as retain a sense of common humanity.

Enriched with multilayered figures and historical precision the film reflects on the murderous mechanisms of nationalism, as well as a traumatic page of history that was regarded as taboo until 1990. In the process Zosia is witness to ethnic cleansing committed by both Ukrainian and Polish groupings; nobody remained innocent. A remarkable though brutal film that speaks of the deadly consequences of hatred unleashed. JG