Where from Where to, dir. by Maciej Hamela

“Where to Where from” / dir. Maciej Hamela / documentary / 2023 / 85 min. / Poland, France, Ukraine

At the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, people suspended in time and space, facing an uncertain present, decide to abandon their most valuable possessions and board a dusty van with foreign plates without hesitation. The vehicle travels thousands of kilometers, serving various roles: a waiting room, a hospital, a shelter, but above all, a space for confessions and sharing that naturally begin to unfold among the chance travel companions. “Skąd dokąd” is a collective portrait composed of the experiences of people who share a single goal: finding a safe haven. In the van, their temporary refuge, distinctions of gender, age, skin color, physical ability, origin, identity, beliefs, or faith are erased. In Ukrainian, “where from” (звідки / zvidky) and “where to” (куди / kudy) are also routine questions asked at the numerous checkpoints scattered across Ukraine.