CUBA & ALASKA

documentary feature film / 75' / Ukraine, France, Belgium

In East Ukraine, death settled in shell-shattered regions for a long time. But in the middle of this desolation, we have found rays of hope—two paramedic women, Cuba and Alaska. Their mission is to save lives. Like ice and flame, they fill the grey stone jungle of the war-torn region. Risking their lives daily, the young women share their professionalism, good humour, and unwavering belief in victory.

Cuba (36) was a talented fashion designer before turning into a wartime paramedic. Today, she keeps creating and drawing sketches, even in the trenches. After the invasion, the focus in the fashion industry largely switched to helping Ukrainian female defenders in the army. In February 2022, as part of the female veteran movement, she presented her collection at the Ukrainian Fashion Week, just before heading to the front.

Before the war, Alaska (29) used to work in the media; she’s been deeply into politics for many years. For her, Russia’s total aggression in Ukraine wasn’t a surprise. Today, Alaska dreams of becoming an architect. She confesses that she went to the war because the thought of Kyiv being bombed and destroyed terrified her. In the breaks between rescue missions, Alaska is studying online at the Kharkiv School of Architecture. When the war is over, Alaska is determined to work on her architecture and urbanism projects: smart reconstruction of historical buildings, development of urban landscape design, and creation of design codes for the cities based on autonomy, inclusiveness, and security.

Alaska and Cuba both work as partners. Despite being very different, they're close friends and supportive of each other. Together, they exemplify the power of female leadership, helping normalize the presence of women in the Ukrainian army as they fight alongside their male counterparts for the nation's freedom.

Serhiy, nicknamed Artist, is permanently assigned as a driver to the team formed by Cuba and Alaska. Before the war, he was an actor. He just celebrated his 60th birthday. Artist is a stronghold of confidence in the team. And a great driver.

Filming began in the summer of 2022, capturing both moments of respite and joy during rotations and the stark horrors of war, where battles against death and the loss of comrades cast long shadows.

Each of our heroines has faced challenging tests of fate. Alaska was injured in early 2023 after an attack by Russian kamikaze drones. She had to undergo more than six months of rehabilitation due to nerve damage. Step by step, she learned to walk again. The consequences of her injury have not gone away completely to this day. For Cuba, her promise to avoid romantic entanglements with her male colleagues was both a personal rule and a shield against the fear of losing loved ones in the war.

Director: Yegor Troyanovsky

Yegor is the author and film director of his first short documentary films ‘Rear’ (participated in the VI Odessa International Film Festival) and ‘Aerodrome’. His first full-length documentary film ‘Demon’ was a participant in XI Odessa International Film Festival and received the FIPRESCI award for ‘BEST FILM’. Yegor Troyanovsky is also one of the creators of the critically-acclaimed historical documentary series: ‘Collapse. How Ukrainians Destroyed the Evil Empire’.

Selected filmography:

• Director, Editor, and Cinematographer, Ukrainska Pravda — 2020

• Developed the concept and produced a documentary film for the online publication Ukrainska Pravda - film Red Line. Corruption.

• Editor and Cinematographer, PBS NewsHour — 2019-present

• Filmed and edited episodes with journalist Simon Ostrovsky for the American channel PBS. Worked on programs covering events in Ukraine, the USA, Belarus, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

• Director and Cinematographer, film *Bes* — 2015-2020

Creative team:

• Producers: Olha Beskhmelnytsina

• DOP: Serhii Stetsenko

• Сo-production: Chrisitan Popp/TAG Films, Hanne Phlypo/CLIN D'OEIL FILMS

• Editing: Joëlle Alexis