The screening of the film Inside, the Valley Sings by Irish director Nathan Fagan, held as part of the Travelling Docudays UA in Zaporizhzhia, became an event that sparked a difficult but profoundly important discussion. Viewers struggled to find the right words: the system of punishment portrayed in the film proved too complex and largely unfamiliar to our region.

Many in the audience felt a sense of ambivalence:

on the one hand, it is clear that confinement in a solitary cell is a severe ordeal;

on the other hand, can such a form of isolation be justified when it concerns a person who has committed a serious crime?

The discussion itself led to a broader question: should the justice system be about punishment alone?

Punishment or a path towards change?

Participants of the screening of Inside, the Valley Sings emphasised that strict isolation does not guarantee rehabilitation. On the contrary, prolonged solitary confinement often causes additional psychological trauma. As a result, after release, a person may not return to society ready for a normal life, but instead become even more dangerous.

Photo: discussion on rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals into society after imprisonment

During the discussion, examples from other countries were mentioned, including Luxembourg, where some institutions function more like small social towns rather than punitive facilities — focusing on rehabilitation, rebuilding skills, and reintegration into the community.

This example sparked an active debate among viewers: could the Ukrainian system move in this direction?

Animation that speaks louder than words

Participants paid particular attention to the film’s visual language. The animation vividly and painfully conveyed what is almost impossible to put into words: auditory and visual hallucinations, distorted perception, emotional breakdowns — all those effects that can arise from prolonged isolation.

Viewers noted that these effects can simultaneously be:

• a protective mechanism that helps a person avoid “falling apart” under conditions of isolation,

• and a symptom of a deteriorating mental state that requires attention and support, rather than punishment alone.

Dialogue that expands the boundaries of understanding

The screening of the Irish film Inside, the Valley Sings in Zaporizhzhia served as a reminder of how important it is to talk about the system of punishment not as an abstract institution, but as a reality that directly affects human lives.

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.