World premiere of ‘Safe Unsound’ documentary that follows Ukrainian families rebuilding their lives in Mayo
A moving documentary film rooted in the heart of Mayo is set to make its world premiere at this year's Westival at 5:30pm on Sunday, October 26, at The W Cinema in Westport.
Safe Unsound follows three Ukrainian families as they arrive in rural Mayo, far from the frontlines of war, capturing their resilience, humour and humanity as they rebuild their lives away from home.
Supported by the local community, their stories show that strength and courage know no borders.
Set against the breathtaking landscape of rural Mayo, the documentary follows the journeys of Katie, Victor and Maryna as they navigate new challenges.
Kate, a corporate lawyer, must retrain in an unfamiliar legal system while helping her children adapt to a new school and a new country, all while adjusting to life without their father, who has been conscripted.
In the moving trailer, Kate explains that leaving Ukraine was a hard decision because, "kids should live with their Daddy." Her daughter Sonya adds: "I want to see Daddy, but I can't see Daddy, and I'm really sad."
Victor, a retired father with an ageing mind and no English, finds purpose and a sense of belonging in the Men's Shed in Castlebar. We see him learning English, and he says to the camera with a melancholic smile: "I can't say I understand everything; I hardly understand anything."
Maryna faces housing insecurity and financial strain but perseveres with quiet strength. The trailer shows her at work: "This work is difficult, we have to do it though, because we don't want to live off benefits," she says, becoming emotional.
Her son Ilyas, meanwhile, has found pride and progress through boxing, is making his mark in Mayo's sporting circles as he aims to follow in the footsteps of his hero, Oleksandr Usyk.
The documentary was filmed over two years in the aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which forced more than 6.7 million people to flee across 44 countries.
The documentary captures intimate moments of struggle and renewal: from Victor moving into a hotel and working to bridge language barriers, to the families finding joy in Irish dancing, sea swims, and climbing Croagh Patrick.
The documentary began as a local project and grew into an international collaboration, funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign that earned the platform's 'Project We Love' recognition.
"Launching the film at Westival has a wonderful symmetry," says director Daniel James Baldwin. "This project was conceived here, built here, and now returns to the people who made it possible."
Since its completion, Safe Unsound has been praised by members of the Ukrainian diaspora and cultural leaders for its honesty, empathy, and humanity.
Inna Yegorova, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, describes it as "a documentary for opening people's hearts."
Journalist and historian Yaroslava Matvieienko writes: "I never imagined that a story about trauma could also be so profoundly healing."
Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, Director of the Ukrainian Institute, adds that the film "underscores the importance of remembering that behind these vast numbers lie the heartrending stories of real individuals."
The premiere will bring together the Ukrainian families featured in the film, their Irish hosts, and many local residents who offered time, resources and kindness throughout production.
Safe Unsound screens at 5:30pm on Sunday, October 26, at The W Cinema, Westport, as part of Westival. It will be followed by a Q&A with Mr Baldwin.
Tickets for the screening can be purchased via the Westival website.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.