The screening of the documentary King Lear: How We Looked for Love During the War in Chuhuiv took place on December 5, International Volunteer Day. For security reasons, the screening was held in one of the city’s shelters, and Yuliia Horielkova, an actress and resident of Chuhuiv and one of the film’s protagonists, attended the event.

At the beginning of the event, a representative from the command of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade presented awards to Chuhuiv volunteers who support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To mark Volunteer Day, Yevhen Rezchenko, the secretary of the Chuhuiv City Council, presented letters of appreciation to Yurii Chumak, the regional coordinator of Travelling Docudays UA in Kharkiv Region, and Yuliia Horielkova, the protagonist of the documentary King Lear, for their efforts in popularizing and developing documentary cinema and for their active civic engagement.

Following the award ceremony, the audience enjoyed King Lear: How We Looked for Love During the War by Dmytro Hreshko. The film tells the incredible story of how, in Uzhhorod, after the onset of the full-scale invasion, they decided to stage Shakespeare’s play King Lear. The actors involved in the production were learning the ropes of theatre acting, and they were all internally displaced individuals. Yuliia Horielkova, one of them, was cast in the play and portrayed King Lear’s youngest daughter, Princess Cordelia.

Travelling Docudays UA in Chuhuiv

The audience eagerly listened to the stories of people whose lives were suddenly disrupted by war and theatre. The full-scale invasion forced them to leave their homes and seek refuge elsewhere, while the theatre performance served as a support and prompted a reevaluation of their traumatic experiences.

The documentary not only introduced the audience to the protagonists but also showed the real impact of russian aggression against Ukraine, revealing the destruction in Irpin, Chernihiv, and Chuhuiv caused by the occupiers. The story also takes us behind the scenes, showing the preparations, rehearsals, and production of the play King Lear, carrying the theme of finding love even in times of war.

The screening ended with a lively discussion. Svitlana Lymanska, Head of the Youth and Sports Department of Chuhuiv City Council, commented on Yuliia Horielkova’s performance: “Despite Yuliia’s delicate appearance, she radiates strength. She’s used to overcoming life’s challenges. After all, Yuliia is a fighter. She helps others, plays sports, and motivates people. She is also a wonderful wife and mother to two sons.”

Serhii Lysenko, director of the Chuhuiv Centre for Tourism and Local History and former coach of Yuliia Horielkova, also shared his admiration for the film’s heroine: “Yuliia has this inner strength she’s been cultivating. This film, it’s like a peek into our friends and our city. The footage of the District House of Culture, destroyed by a Russian missile, resonated deeply. We live right across the street and survived all the shelling. We survived, and we realize that we have to live on. And to re-read King Lear… And, of course, documentaries tell us the truth about the Holodomor and the ongoing war. We’ll keep watching them, staying true to our Ukrainian identity.”

Travelling Docudays UA in Chuhuiv

Yuliia Horielkova also added her commentary on the film: “I want to mention the scenes filmed in the ruined District House of Culture in Chuhuiv. You noticed, for instance, that there was a photo album lying there. Those are reminders of the good times enjoyed by club members, with club activity abruptly cut short by the start of a full-scale war. It’s crucial for me that people in different countries see the reality of what’s happening to us, to our city. This moment, to me, stands out as the most significant in the film.”

During the discussion, Yurii Chumak, the coordinator of Travelling Docudays UA in Kharkiv Region, also shared his insights: “This year’s Travelling Docudays UA line-up features just 20 documentaries, mostly by Ukrainian or foreign directors dedicated to Ukraine. I believe it’s important to document the current events in our country. It’s a real honour for me to showcase a film in my hometown, especially with a protagonist from Chuhuiv. In a way, Chuhuiv itself takes the scene in this film. Our Travelling Docudays UA always comes before December 10, International Human Rights Day. I sincerely hope that the next Docudays UA will unfold in a peaceful Ukraine, and I’ll bring new documentaries to Chuhuiv, where we can watch them without seeking refuge in a bomb shelter.”

Main photo: A still from King Lear: How We Looked for Love During the War.

The 20th Travelling Docudays UA is supported by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ukraine, and the US Embassy in Ukraine. Opinions, conclusions, or recommendations do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments, charities, or companies of these countries. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of its authors.