Danish director Simon Lereng Wilmont has been dealing with the situation of children in Ukraine for years – especially in the east of the country, where war has been raging since 2014. In 2019, Wilmont was shortlisted for an Oscar for his documentary The Distant Barking of Dogs, which tells the story of a ten-year-old boy. For his new film “A House Made of Splinters” he followed life in a children’s home in the city of Lysychansk before the Russian attack on all of Ukraine. This means that Wilmont is currently on the shortlist for the European Film Awards. Together with aid organizations he tries to support the children in Ukraine.
Simon Lereng Wilmont spoke to stern about children who have to grow up too quickly, the current situation of his young protagonists and the future of Ukraine.
Mr Wilmont, how would you describe everyday life for the children in the home?Simon Lereng Wilmont: The children live there for various reasons – because their parents drink, are violent or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Unlike in many other children’s homes, there is a heart-warming atmosphere there. The caregivers try to meet not only the physical but also the emotional needs of the children and to give them as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.
The part of Ukraine where your film is set has been at war for years, not just since February. I shot there in 2020, about 15 kilometers from the front. The war had been going on for six years. The direct impact wasn’t that big, but when you have a war on your doorstep for so long, of course it does something to society. Many shops were closed, people were laid off, there were no jobs. Most of the children’s families lived in great need.
How does this affect children and how do they deal with it? Children are very resilient as long as someone takes care of them. But these children lived in broken families, where there was far too much alcohol drinking and domestic violence. They had to take care of themselves and sometimes their siblings as well.
This is quickly noticeable in the film: the children seem much more grown-up than their parents, if they still have any…Absolutely! I was very impressed but also sad how they skipped a large part of their childhood to take responsibility for themselves.
What happened to the children’s home after Russia attacked all of Ukraine in February?The authorities acted quickly and arranged for the children from the orphanages and children’s homes to be taken by train to the west of the country and some even to European countries. Most children are as secure as one can be in this situation. There was bitter fighting in the area, but the region is now controlled by Russia. A rocket hit the children’s home, it went through the ceiling of the common room, but it didn’t explode. Now it just hangs there, in the middle of the children’s home.
That sounds bizarre. Yes, but it gives a good picture of what’s happening there and what kind of place it is now.
Many of these children were not very lucky in life even before the war. What does this experience mean for her?One of the children, Kolya, was placed in a different home after our film, but he was still able to communicate with his four siblings who were taken in by a foster family. Now he is in Europe and can no longer be in regular contact with them. So he’s safe, but for him that also means not having contact with the people he loves.
How do you see the situation of children in Ukraine overall: Is the country threatened by a lost generation?During my time in eastern Ukraine I saw what the war does to adults. In the end, the children are always the losers, they are at the end of this downward spiral. And now the front line is no longer just 400 kilometers long, but the whole of Ukraine is a war zone. That’s why I’m very worried about this generation.
What possibilities do you have – with the experiences and contacts through your films – to help and get involved? Together with the organization “Voices for Children”, which our coordinator in Ukraine runs, we were able to provide a lot of help. For example, they set up a hotline where children can talk to a psychologist who specializes in childhood trauma. My part is to collect as many donations as possible. Also, at the premiere in Kyiv, an ombudswoman for children’s rights was present, she wants to organize a private screening of our film for President Zelenky, because she believes that it shows many ways how Ukraine can be rebuilt – if they eventually throw the Russians out .
You were in Kyiv yourself a few weeks ago, what are your impressions? Some were worried about Putin’s nuclear threats, but overall the people of Kyiv were filled with resisting, fighting and getting through this terrible time. They have kept their sense of humor and their positive outlook on life. They are resilient and have not lost hope. That made me optimistic too.
Finally, what do you wish the children in Ukraine for the future? First of all, of course, that the war should stop. I hope that families will be reunited and that there will be great efforts to heal not only the physical but also the emotional injuries. Because what matters most is that the children are with their loved ones and that they are doing well.
“A House Made of Splinters” is currently running at the Human Rights Festival in Berlin, curated by the children’s rights organization Save the Children. The film can be seen on October 23 (8:30 p.m.) locally or via stream.
