In the Kharkiv metro system, 12-year-old Niki and 11-year-old Vika hide from the war raging above ground. They are not allowed to leave the platforms or train cars, which means living under neon lights without access to sunlight. What initially seemed different and exciting soon turns into boredom. We follow the children’s games among makeshift beds and camps, their legs running swiftly through the trains. One can’t help but ponder the future of these children, who are forced to hide from the bombs in the subway stations.

Ivan Ostrochovský and Pavol Pekarcik, two ambitious directors, followed these children throughout 2022. The result is a hybrid documentary that portrays life during war and temporary exile—a film about survival and the future, seen through the eyes of children.

Mia Rogersdotter Gran