Within the 22nd Travelling Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, our regional partner, NGO Insider Education Centre, together with the youth of the Plast Uzhhorod movement and with the support of medical workers and volunteers, organised a special event.

At the Uzhhorod City Clinical Hospital, a screening of the documentary Glass, My Unlived Life was held for military personnel who are currently undergoing treatment. It was not just a screening. It was a space of support, honest conversation, and an opportunity to touch something important through another person’s story.

Photo: watching a movie Glass, My Unlived Life

When someone else’s story becomes a mirror

The protagonist of the film goes through a journey familiar to many defenders: exhaustion, doubt, lack of support, criticism, the search for meaning — and, despite everything, moving forward.

The participants of the screening said that the film touched something personal in them: about the struggle for one’s own dream, about the fatigue that is not always visible from the outside, and about how important it is to have a person or a calling nearby that helps you stay on the path.

Olesia, 24:
“The film is not bad, it draws you into the plot closer to the middle. An interesting and unconventional success story that inspires reflection on the risks of changing one’s line of work. Some moments were drawn out — but it’s probably just because we’ve grown used to clip thinking.”

Viktoria, 14:
“The film about a dream motivates and shows how important it is not to give up. The protagonist proves that perseverance can change your life. It inspires everyone who has a dream.”

Photo: Plast members from Uzhhorod

About dreams that become your support

One of the key themes of the conversation was the power of a dream, even one that seems strange, “inconvenient”, or “unnecessary”.
Because a dream often becomes the bridge that keeps a person above the abyss — both on screen and in reality.

For many military personnel, the protagonist’s story became a reminder: even if the path has broken, it can be rebuilt. And that the right to dream is also part of recovery.

Words on the wall that have become symbolic

The place of the screening added a special resonance to the event. The hospital wall had a phrase that almost everyone stopped by:

“Miracles happen where people believe in them. And the more they believe, the more often they occur.”

These words became a quiet but powerful message of support.

Photo: motivational movies, motivational quotes on walls

During this shared viewing, they seemed to acquire a new meaning as a reminder of human resilience, of trust, of small steps toward oneself.

The meeting ended with a warm conversation between the military personnel, the Plast members, and the volunteers. They spoke about fatigue and hope, about decisions and dreams, about the fact that sometimes real meaning is born where there are people nearby who are ready to listen.

The 22nd Travelling Docudays UA is held with the financial support of the European Union, the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine, and International Media Support. The opinions, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily correspond to the views of the European Union, the governments or charities of these countries. Responsibility for the content of the publication lies solely on its authors.