Alisa Kovalenko
director
Traces
(Traces)
Iryna is haunted by recurring dreams of being back in her beloved garden in Donbas. Among the garden beds and structures, dark memories of wartime trauma emerge. Yet despite the violence she has endured, she finds the strength to help others.
Iryna, Tetiana, Mefodiivna, Halyna, Olha, Nina—these are the women who have testified to being raped by occupying forces. Iryna founded the Ukrainian branch of SEMA, an organization supporting survivors of sexual violence. Their recorded testimonies reveal the reality of people whose bodily integrity was violated and whose lives were traumatized by Russian soldiers. Despite these harrowing circumstances, the protagonists build a supportive community for other survivors, transforming their trauma into acts of defiance. The film captures their stories through restrained, unsentimental poetics. A sensitive camera focuses less on the explicit depiction of the women than on the details of everyday life and the surrounding nature.
Right to KnowBasic information about the film
| Title | Traces |
|---|---|
| Original Language | Ukrainian |
| Subtitles | Czech, English |
| Premiéra | Czech premiere |
| Film type | Full-length documentary |
| Year of Production | 2026 |
| Country of Origin | Poland, Ukraine |
| Length | 82 min. |
| Director | Alisa Kovalenko, Marysia Nikitiuk |
| Sales |
STRANGER FILMS SALES Tijana Dukic tiana@strangerfilmssales.com |
Guests attending the post-screening debate
Iryna Dovgan
Right to Know
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