Reflection is a historical drama film set on the bloody conflict between Ukraine and the invading Russian forces in the Donbass region. The film reflects the face of war-induced trauma and loss yet is packed with moments of beauty, grace, and enduring love. Valentyn wrote, directed, shot, and edited Reflection by himself.
The movie narrates the story of Serhiy (Roman Lutskyi), a Ukrainian military surgeon, and a guest for his daughter Polina’s (Nika Myslytska, who is Vasyonovych’s actual daughter) birthday celebration. Other attendees are his ex and Polina’s mom, Olha (Nadia Levchenko), and her current partner, Andriy (Andriy Rymaruk). The two men are on slightly strained terms.
When Olha moves out, Serhiy and Andriy share a drink and discuss the war front. Serhiy is a mild-mannered surgeon who treats injured soldiers in the capital, Kyiv. Andriy is a Ukrainian soldier on one-week leave. The director draws the characters' innermost pain through restrained dialogues and symmetrically stylized shots.
We find ourselves on the back of an army jeep with Serhiy and another soldier heading out to the frontline, they run into an enemy checkpoint and end up in the hands of the enemy. He’s tortured by electrodes and fists and forced to watch terrifying scenes of torture, rape, and other crimes against humanity bestowed against the POWs.
The film shows us how medical skills are brutally exploited in war times, turning doctors into machines meant to torture and cause pain to others. Serhiy is forced to participate in the brutalization of his fellow Ukrainians – including Andriy.
Serhiy is soon released from captivity in a prison swap between Ukraine and Russia and returns to his pre-war everyday life, but the horrors he witnessed keep haunting him, triggering PTSD attacks. This is an all too true depiction of what soldiers have to go through, and sadly, some don't recover from the inhumane actions they witnessed. He gradually starts to overcome his own post-traumatic fears and anxieties as he helps his daughter move from the loss.
Reflection is a startling depiction of what war is like and the toll it takes on not just the soldiers, but families waiting at home. It is a moving film that shows the merciless undertakings of war and how those in it have to struggle to regain their lives.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
Reflection is suitable for war film collections in public and academic libraries.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
Reflection is an excellent movie for those majoring in psychology. The film shows the reality of war and the post-traumatic stress disorder that originates from war.