Mother. In the Name of the Millions
This no-dialogue film, inspired by the novel 'Mother' written by the Homer of Cinema (Dovzhenko), tells the story the Mother as recalled by her dying son. She lives during the World War II in Ukraine occupied by Nazi Germans. Her son goes to war, so she is left all alone. Due to an injury, she becomes deaf. Visited by Nazi soldiers one night, she got assaulted but regains her dignity. Next, out of instinct, one day she hides in her home an injured Soviet pilot who happened to be a Russian. She takes care of him as of her own child. Life goes on, the soldier gradually recovers, and the Mother feels as though she has another son. She even thinks about finding a pair for him, matching him with the most beautiful lady in the village. One day the occupants come back to the village and discover her new son. By interrogating the Mother and fellow villagers, they investigate whether the man is her son. And now the Mother faces her destiny, same way millions of the mothers did it in those remarkable days which we should not forget - Ukraine lost over 10 million civilians during the Holodomor and World War II. Millions of them were Mothers. Despite all, their hearts and homes became shelters to other Mothers' sons.
