Missing in Action

Natalia — a determined and resilient 50 years old woman whose life was forever changed by war. She spent 20 years serving as a custom officer before losing her job. Meanwhile, her hometown, Horodnya, near the Russian border, was turned into a military zone. After the de-occupation of the city, many locals felt the consequences of the war and chose to join the army, including Natalia’s brother. Vitaliy, a combat medic, went missing in the Donetsk region in March 2023. Upon discovering his disappearance, Natalia led the search process. However, Vitaliy is not mentioned in any news or documents. Now she felt stuck and unsure of what to do next. Faced not only with financial difficulties, but also with the emotional consequences of her unsuccessful search, she decides to accept a job offer and return to the customs service. Natalia moves to another city, but this decision does not bring her the happiness she wants, as she is forced to leave her family and home. Suffering from survivor's syndrome, unable to let go of thoughts of her brother, she continues to search for answers. At the same time, she uses her experience to help other people from her hometown who are also searching for missing loved ones. Reflecting on her current life, Natalia decides to fulfil her long-standing dream of going to university to get a masterʼs degree in psychology. Will Natalia find peace by helping others and overcome her own crisis? And will she ever find out her brother’s fate?

directors and scriptwriters Kateryna Holovko & Marharyta Melnychuk

DoP Denis Melnik, Marharyta Melnychuk

producer Aliona Kachkan

executive producer Eugene Rachkovsky

Script Consultant Yelizaveta Smith