In The Rearview

When the fighting draws near and lives are in danger, millions of Ukrainians are forced to abandon their homes. Many are reliant on volunteers like Polish filmmaker Maciek Hamela to drive them to safety. Hamela steers his minivan through minefields and detours – all while filming over his shoulder. The cramped, anxious passengers are typically women; mothers with young children and the elderly. As the van zigzags across the devasted countryside, it becomes a space in which they can talk about their experiences and all they’ve left behind. This haunting documentary, a prize winner at film festivals worldwide, gives voice to the ordinary people of Ukraine.