Go beyond news stories to understand the Ukraine crisis

Director Lesia Diak speaks about her documentary on the life of an Ukrainian soldier, titled Dad's Lullaby, the psychological impacts of war, and her message to India and the rest of the world

- AKSHAY KUMAR

When a documentary about the struggle in Ukraine is being released at a time like this, it is natural to assume that it would be about the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, director Lesia Diak's Dad's Lullaby reveals the shocking truth that things in Ukraine weren't any better before the February invasion promulgated by Vladimir Putin.

The documentary, set in 2017, tells the story of Serhiy, who, after two long years of battle, is trying to reconnect with his family. Lesia, who was in a relationship with a soldier, confesses to finding it hard to stay in a relationship after the war. She says, "I needed time to get mentally prepared for the documentary. Only when I could come out of my personal tragedy, was I able to work on it. At least I had the privilege to access a psychologist. But Serhiy didn't get a chance to work on his mental health which eventually led to his separation from his family."