Boney Piles/Terykony (Ukraine, 2022), screening by Samizdat Festival

Samizdat Eastern European Film Festival presents Boney Piles (Terykony), screened as part of its Ukrainian cinema strand at the festival's inaugural edition in 2022. Directed by Taras Tomenko, this documentary (filmed before Russia's further escalation of the invasion of Ukraine) tells about childhood in the cruel reality of war. A Scotland premiere, it has previously been screened at the 2022 editions of Berlinale and Sheffield Doc/Fest.

In the dystopian grey landscape of Donbass, just a couple of miles away from the frontline, children, some of whom have only a vague, if any, recollection of their native town as a peaceful place, are trying to make sense of their reality and find ways to help their families survive. This film is a moving and contemporary portrait: with calm, discrete shots, it follows the children around as a silent observer. Youthful innocence contrasts strikingly with its bitter context, while Nastya and Yarik attempt to articulate the real meaning of war and its aftermath.

Samizdat is supported by Film Hub Scotland, part of the BFI’s Film Audience Network, and funded by Screen Scotland and National Lottery funding from the BFI. It is jointly funded by the European Cultural Foundation (Culture of Solidarity Fund — Ukraine Special Edition).

Accessibility

Financial support to attend the festival is available to eligible applicants via Samizdat's Access Fund.

Content Notes: Depictions of consequences of war, hardship, poverty, and child suffering.

Access Notes: Occasional loud noises, one scene with mild strobing lights towards the end.