Volodymyr Ivanov

Rule of Two Walls explores the war in Ukraine through the lens of artists living and creating in the midst of unprecedented conflict. Visceral, poetic, and urgent, it illuminates the vital role of cultural and spiritual defiance in times of crisis.

Four short stories are set along the roads of Donbass during the war. There are no safe spaces and no one can make sense of just what is going on. Even as they are trapped in the chaos, some manage to wield authority over others. But in this world, where tomorrow may never come, not everyone is defenseless and miserable. Even the most innocent victims may have their turn at taking charge.

Squat32 is a modern Peter Pan story of searching one`s way to adulthood, and finding own style and talents. Lisa works as a photographer in the Passport Center. One day she comes across a commune of free and talented dreamers’ artists, dancers, musicians, who are squatting in half-ruined desolate house. An eighty-year-old Faina is the only legal resident of the house and the sole obstacle for the developer who plans demolish the whole block including the SquatHouse. Lisa is mesmerized by the energy, freedom and creativity of the commune. They fight for their way of living, create and change the world around them. Lisa herself changes, she begins to search for her place in the world, develops her vision and style. Thanks to Squat32 Lisa’s work as a photographer is noticed and her world and possibilities widen.

12-year-old dreamer Vlad accidentally gets caught in a conflict between two alien forces. Together with an electric transformer box The Bobot, a brave girl and an eccentric scientist he has to save the world from a global catastrophe.

The boys grew up together. By chance, they meet to catch up and have some fun. This time, with their old pal Dima.

The film tells about the tragic date in the history of the Crimean Tatar people — May 18, 1944 — Stalin’s deportation of the Crimean Tatars. The plot of the film — a pilot, twice Hero of the Soviet Union, Amethan Sultan. In May, 1944, a year after liberation of Sevastopol Amethan goes on vacation to his native town Alupka. On May 18 his eyes witness begining of deportation of the Crimean Tatars.

A man with a stack of pulp fiction arrives in a village in the Poltava region. Locals know that his name is Slavik, that he comes from Russia, and that he doesn't drink alcohol. Otherwise, he's just like anybody else. He's just a mediocre person. He meets a bright personality in the village. She's a widow called Nina, a local producer of moonshine. Nina is about 20 years older than him. She has a past, she's nervous, but her charisma and vitality attract people. Slavik was also attracted by this. It wasn't easy for them to be together. She loved with passion and was jealous. She wanted him to dig potatoes, not to read, and to booze with her. He learned how to do only the last thing. He had thought he would spend a winter with her and then leave. But no way. Slavik returned to Nina many times as if he was tied to her with some invisible threads. He can't explain his affection for her by anything other than mysticism.