In Brazil, as part of the prestigious international documentary film festival É Tudo Verdade, special attention this year was drawn to films portraying the reality of Ukraine during the full-scale Russian invasion. Through the lens of international filmmakers, audiences were able to witness not only the war, but also the everyday human resilience that has become a defining symbol of modern Ukraine.
One of the festival’s central events was the screening of the documentary Night Shift (2025) — a profound and sensitive work by director Megumi Lim, a Japanese journalist who moved to Ukraine during the war and now lives in Kyiv.
The film takes viewers to Kharkiv — a city located just a few dozen kilometers from the Russian border and subjected to daily attacks. The story unfolds during curfew hours — a time when the streets are supposed to be empty.
And yet, life does not stop.
In the silence of the night, critical infrastructure workers, medical personnel, and municipal services continue to perform their duties, risking their lives. Between the sounds of sirens, fear, and darkness, something stronger is born — a belief in the dawn.
This is not just a documentary film. It is a portrait of endurance, inner strength, and human dignity.
A particularly valuable aspect of the screenings was the presence of Megumi Lim herself in Brazil. In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, open Q&A sessions were held, giving audiences the opportunity to engage directly with someone documenting the war in real time.
Following one of the screenings at Cinemateca Brasileira, a warm and meaningful discussion took place about the filmmaking process, the risks of working in a war zone, and the personal experience of living in Ukraine during wartime.
Among the distinguished guests at the screening were:
- Honorary Consul of Ukraine in São Paulo, Jorge Rybka
- Honorary Consul of Moldova, Flavio Bitelman
- Consul General of Japan, Yoriko Suzuki
The event also became an important platform for the Ukrainian diaspora in Brazil. Ukrainians living in the country are actively involved in cultural initiatives to share the truth about the war.
In particular:
- Nadiia Dokuchaieva represents the Ukrainian community in São Paulo
- Alina Tsukanova attended the screening in Rio de Janeiro
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, curfew has become part of daily life for Ukrainians. Being outside at night is restricted, except in emergency situations such as air raid alerts.
In Kharkiv, located approximately 30 km from the Russian border, destruction has become a familiar landscape. Yet even under these conditions, the city continues to live.
And every night, the same thought is born:
that morning will surely come — and that it will be peaceful.
Night Shift has already received international recognition, including at festivals in Kyiv and Berlin. But its true value lies in its ability to build an emotional bridge between countries.
This film does not just show the war.
It allows it to be felt.
And it is through works like this that the world begins to better understand Ukraine — not only as a territory of struggle, but as a country of people who choose, every day, to live, work, and believe.
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Author: Olena Zhukova
Photo: Olena Zhukova