Mariinka

Documentary about war and humanity in Ukraine

In Mariinka, Belgian director Pieter-Jan de Peu follows young people in the front-line city of the same name in the Donbas. More than 10 years of conflict have shaped their lives. The film shows how they deal with war, loss and loyalty — not as statistics, but as people with their own stories.

The filmmaker behind the film

De Peu previously made The Land of the Enlightened about war children in Afghanistan. With Mariinka, he travels to the front line in Ukraine. His approach is personal and intimate: he follows the residents closely and shows the humanity behind the conflict. The film premiered at idfa and received widespread attention from the international press there.

Connection and fault lines in times of conflict

The documentary shows how political conflicts can even break blood ties. At the same time, you see how people seek and find connection, even under extreme circumstances. Mariinka does not look away from the war, but always places it in a human context.