The films show the life of Ukrainians in the first months of a full-scale war through personal stories of “faith, service and human solidarity.” According to the authors, the main goal of the project is to show how spiritual beliefs are manifested in the specific actions of people during trials.
Filming of the films “Saltovskaya Ekklesia” and “Gospel after 24.02” took place in June 2022. Initially, they planned one big film, but the material turned out to be so diverse that the author decided to create two independent stories.
The film “Saltovskaya Ekklesia” focuses on the lives of people in the Saltovka residential area in Kharkov, one of the hardest-hit areas of the city. At the center of the story is a local church community, which has become a territory of salvation for the residents.
According to Tuzov, this is a story not only about a specific parish, but also about the broader experience of Ukrainian society. During filming, the team witnessed the real service of the community – helping civilians, traveling to dangerous areas, supporting people left under fire.
“They were not afraid to go to gray areas and help those in need, they carried medicines and medicines,” Tuzov noted.
The second film has a wider geography and explores the spiritual transformations of people after the outbreak of a full-scale war. At the center are the stories of people who remained to serve their communities despite danger.
“This is a story of the decisions of pastors who decided to stay in their jobs. They continued their ministry because they believed that this is exactly what they should do,” Tuzov explained.
According to the director, the film shows how the perception of faith has changed after February 24. He noted that working on the material became a personal experience for him.
“I communicated with so many people who experienced terrible misfortune. It was the depth of internal reflection,” Tuzov explained.
Context
“Through the Eyes of Faith” is a film studio founded to create documentaries aimed at audiences in Ukraine, Europe, the USA and other countries.
The project tells real stories about Christians experiencing pain, struggling with fear, despondency and despair. As part of the project, it is planned to film a series of documentaries about pastors, chaplains, volunteers, doctors, and military personnel who demonstrate the value and power of their beliefs in war conditions.
