Olga Semak

My motivation for my project “Demiurge“

We had started the work on this project back in 2019 and finished the shooting in autumn 2021. I would describe that period as happy time for me and my team. We met new people far away from Kyiv, in the region which was quite unfamiliar for me. First, we had to get accustomed to each other; then we have been waiting for a meeting after a year of pandemic, and now we are almost like members of one family. When in late February the combat outburst 6 km away from our home we knew where to find safety: almost all residents of Lobachivka village in Volyn region offered us shelter in their homes.
From the very beginning we decided that it should be not-depressing and funny story, but honest and without glossiness. We studied the complex world of small community with curiosity and found out stormy passions raging within the triangle of a church, local club, and village council. We admired personal changes in the characters in our story, observed the grown of children and new births. We witnessed insults and disappointments, consolations, and terminal illnesses. But despite all the troubles this is light, funny, and bright film.
And now when we are busy with editing this film, disturbing and tragic news arrive from Volyn region. Two communities where we shoot the film have buried five killed war fighters. In late March Russian missile landed in a vegetable garden in the village and fortunately did not blast. Fortunately, there were no victims.
Now our foremost desire is to finish the work on this film and to register this ‘a moment before the war’ situation. We want a cheerful energy of our film to wrap our tough reality and support, encourage and relieve Ukrainians. We dedicate this story to the memory of deceased soldiers from Volyn.

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