Documentary Proposal
Chronic Scars
A film that analyzes how one's perception of reality and views about the world are changing due to the impact of war, and how a person accepts their military path as the meaning of life.
Mission Statement
We plan to tell stories of the complexity of the war in Ukraine, to provide the global community a more personal, familial understanding of this conflict. Through a humanitarian and investigative lens, “Chronic Scars” will shed light on the unfolding catastrophe while mobilizing the international community towards action.
All proceeds above minimum production costs will facilitate humanitarian support.
The Film at a Glance
120–150
Minutes
3–5
Soldier Protagonists
5+
Countries
15+
Hours of Footage
Three Parts
A Nation at War
Eastern Ukraine • 45 minutes
During the last months of filming, the crew traveled twice to Eastern Ukraine, obtaining rare footage of people in Mariupol and other towns of Donbass under fire and constant bombardment. Interviews with Russian and Eastern Ukrainian generals, officers, soldiers, and Donbass statesmen.
The team also visited refugee centers across Rostov Oblast, capturing 15+ hours of footage on topics ranging from civil-refugee problems to the war and global crisis.
A People Divided
Poland & Western Ukraine • 45 minutes
Based on the story of an elderly couple from Debaltseve (DPR) and their son who left in 2014 to work in Poland. The couple are adherents of the Russian regime; their son claims they were influenced by propaganda.
The film touches the fate of people forced to leave their homeland for safety, revealing how conflicting world views destroy family bonds. War ruins families both physically and socially.
The International Diaspora
New York, London, Dubai • 45 minutes
Interviews with post-Soviet emigres exploring how they view the conflict and what they are doing to bring it to an end. Featuring voices from New Jersey, Germany, and beyond — including Ukrainian refugees, Russian dissidents, and families torn apart by opposing loyalties.
Film Synopsis
War leaves scars on the fate of people. A shell shock or injury makes it impossible to return to their usual work or hobby. Families crumble from despair. Some soldiers, because of the horrors they saw at the front, make a difficult decision — to remain in the military forever.
Shooting Plan
- 3–5 soldiers selected at NATO training grounds, chosen for compelling personal stories and professions
- Each interviewed at the start, middle, and end of their military service
- Soldiers document frontline experiences with their own phones
- Film crew follows soldiers home to capture their return to civilian life
Interview Themes
- Life before the war: families, professions, dreams
- Plans for the future and outlook on post-war life
- The brutalities experienced and their personal impact
- The fundamental question: can a person return to normal life after war?
The Finale
The final scene of the film will be multi-screen portraits of the film's characters in color. The dead on the screen will freeze and turn black and white, while the living will briefly flash in the episodes. The closing shot: an exposition of a cemetery with Ukrainian flags, accompanied by voiceovers from interviews with fallen soldiers recorded at their training ground.
Help Make This Film a RealityOur Interviewees Span the Globe
Live and remote interviews with soldiers, civilians, refugees, dissidents, and diaspora voices.
Ukrainian servicemen & civilians
Family relatives & refugees
Ukrainian workers & migrants
Ukrainian 18-year-old expat
Russian refugees from Makhachkala
Remote interviews via Zoom