Short documentary PAST SIMPLE was created to be shown in Sweden during events in National Museum. The film wasn't pulished yet, but for those, who want to watch it, here is the link.

https://youtu.be/h4k9gsQ4HS0

Once upon a time in a middle of the Soviet Union nowhere a man bought a camera. Not a big deal, you could say, huh? But please note - that was 60s in a small village in Soviet Ukraine, which means actually no shops with gadgets and supplies around the corner.

But he did it, he bought a camera. And day by day, year by year he filmed his family, his house and garden, his brothers and friends. He filmed life as it was around him. That was life after the Second World war full of hope and joy.

More than 50 years later in 2022 a young woman was leaving her home in Kyiv in hurry. She was able to take just a few things with her. Among others there was a hard drive with an old family video archive created by her grandfather. A digital copy of life of at least three generations of people in Donbas.

This is my family.

It took me some time to become able to watch this video without strong emotions. Because I know their future, I know their destiny of people between wars.

This boy is my 9-years old father. He was born just 12 years after The Second World war ended in a society which main value could be displayed in phraze "let it be no war anymore". Today he is 65. And he and my mother are living now surrounded with the new war.

Director
Liubov Babichenko

Footage
Olexander Babichenko
1933-2009

Story
Liubov Babichenko

Music and sound design
Roman Gens

Spetial thanks to
Afrang Malekian
Göran Hugo Olsson

Stockholm, 2023