In my two previous films, I followed children who lived in very safe worlds. Their lives got knocked out of balance temporarily, and in the films we followed them in their individual struggles to get back on their feet again, growing wiser from the experience. That made me think about what it would be like if the situation was completely turned upside down: How does a child find safety and security in a chaotic world?

In The Distant Barking of Dogs, I follow 10-year-old Oleg, who lives with his grandma in a warzone in the eastern part of Ukraine, less than one mile from the frontline. I spent time in the area researching, and I remember the first time I met Oleg. He immediately stood out. I asked if he could describe how it felt to be scared. He looked at me and without hesitation said, “It feels like a hand reaching in and grabbing my heart. When the first explosions sound, after the cannons have fired, the hand starts squeezing my heart. Then it gets all little and cold, too.” It was then I knew I had found my main subject.

Soon afterward, I met his grandmother, Alexandra, an amazing, loving and strong woman. It was obvious how close and special the bond between the two of them was. Their house still showed signs of shelling and desperately needed repairs, but it was filled with warmth and laughter. A lot of the people in the village had been displaced, including many close friends and relatives, leaving behind a vacuum of activity where time did not exist. But there was always a warm meal ready and a good story waiting to be shared in their house. Life was calm and beautiful, as it should be. For a second, you almost forgot about the war. Staying there long enough, though, I soon realized that this bubble of safety was just an illusion. A brittle illusion that could shatter violently and often unexpectedly to reveal the very real and dangerous world that Oleg and Alexandra really live in.

The film is about how people deal with the cracks in that illusion and about the human drive we have to survive no matter what. How, even amidst the most impossible circumstances, we build illusory worlds for ourselves in which we can find comfort and warmth, because we can't exist for long in chaos. Even when the illusion is demolished over and over again, we still keep building it back up again. That kind of tenacity is incredibly beautiful to me.

I am also reminded of the importance of the people who surround us by the mutual dependency that Oleg and his grandmother have developed. They share a love for each other. Without one, the other would collapse. They live in two different worlds. His world is immediate: he reacts to what happens and quickly suppresses the bad things. She, on the other hand, knows that the things yet to come can have terrible consequences for them. In the film, Alexandra shelters Oleg from the big, bad world around him for as long as she can. That's what makes it possible for him to be a child long enough to give her the joy and strength that she needs to survive and keep up hope.

—Simon Lereng Wilmont

Director, The Distant Barking of Dogs

This guide is an invitation to dialogue. It is based on a belief in the power of human connection and designed for people who want to use The Distant Barking of Dogs to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities. In contrast to initiatives that foster debates in which participants try to convince others that they are right, this document envisions conversations undertaken in a spirit of openness in which people try to understand one another and expand their thinking by sharing viewpoints and listening actively.

The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issues in the film. Rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. And be sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized and optimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.

For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit amdoc.org/engage/resources.

The Distant Barking of Dogs offers insight into the experiences of a young Ukrainian boy living on the frontlines of war in the village of Hnutove in eastern Ukraine. It will be of special interest to people who want to explore the following topics:

Borders

Coming of age

Conflict zones

Cultural preservation

Discrimination

Displacement

Donetsk People's Republic

Eastern Ukraine

Ethnic bias

Family

Gender

Heritage

Intergenerational caretaking

International diplomacy

Masculinity

Mental health

Migration

Military-industrial complex
Resilience

Russian foreign policy

Ukraine/crisis in Ukraine

War

War in Donbas

Youth

FILM PARTICIPANTS

Oleg - young boy living in eastern Ukraine near the border with Russia

Alexandra - grandmother and caretaker of Oleg

Yarik - Oleg’s cousin and close friend

Kostya - rebellious older friend of Oleg and Yarik

Alyona - Yarik’s mother, Oleg’s aunt and Alexandra’s daughter

Oleg and his grandmother live in Donbas, a region in eastern Ukraine near the Russia border that is primarily Russian-speaking. The current unrest in that region began in November 2013, when peaceful protests broke out in the nation’s capital after then-president Viktor Yanukovich passed up a European Union trade deal in favor of strengthening ties with Russia. This decision inflamed existing tensions in multicultural Ukraine: many in Kyiv and the western part of the country wished to align themselves with Europe, while others in the Russian-speaking eastern region identified more with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In January 2014, state security forces cracked down violently on the demonstrators in Kyiv. This uprising, which became known as the Maidan Revolution, culminated in the Ukrainian Parliament voting to impeach Yanukovich. The ousted president fled to Russia and Parliament elected an interim president as it prepared for national elections.

Claiming that his impeachment was illegal and that he was still the legitimate leader of Ukraine, Yanukovich requested that Russia intervene militarily to reinstall him. With the support of the Kremlin, pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine began a campaign to secede from the country. Ukraine and the international community claim that the separatist uprisings were engineered by Putin’s administration, but Russia denies this.

When separatists in two provinces, Donetsk and Luhansk, declared independence from Ukraine in referenda that violated the Ukrainian constitution, Russia supplied military aid to these fighters and deployed its own troops. In March 2014 the region along the eastern border erupted into conflict between the Ukrainian military, Russian-backed militants, and Russian troops. According to a team of analysts writing in The Washington Post, “At first it was a skirmish between Ukrainian security forces and local separatist militias, bolstered by Russian mercenaries. But by late 2014, the fighting involved large numbers of troops including Russian army regulars, outfitted with armor and artillery.”

Five years later the conflict in eastern Ukraine rages on, though coverage in Western media outlets has flagged. Since April 2014, 13,000 people have been killed and almost 24,000 injured; a U.N. Human Rights mission estimates that a quarter of the dead have been civilians. Almost two million people have been internally displaced or are at risk in their own homes. The violence also has collateral effects on the surviving residents of Donbas: damaged housing and infrastructure make it difficult to access basic resources such as heat, electricity, clean water and healthcare, not to mention schools and election facilities. The 500-kilometer (310-mile) disputed border of Donbas is controlled by military checkpoints, and there are over one million crossings every month, many by pension-holders who spend hours waiting in line for access to benefits on the government-controlled side.

In September 2014, the leaders of Ukraine, Russia and the self-declared People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk signed the Minsk Agreement, which attempted to quell the fighting. However, by January 2015 the agreement broke down and the violence resumed. In January, Germany and France brokered a second Minsk Agreement with the original signatories: this pact mandated a ceasefire, the withdrawal of heavy weapons from frontlines, a prisoner exchange, local elections and humanitarian aid. They also agreed to work toward “socio-economic reintegration of the separatist-held territories.”

Despite these diplomatic peacemaking attempts, the conflict remains at an impasse: as of April 2019 daily violence continues along the border. More than 1.6 million people have been internally displaced by the war, and the nearly three million people who remain near the frontlines face an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis. According to one BBC correspondent on NPR’s Here & Now, “It's still a conflict which is being fought on the ground, but it's not a conflict really that either side seems to think it can win.”

Sources:

Buckley, Cynthia, Ralph Clem, Jarod Fox and Erik Herron. “The War in Ukraine Is More Devastating Than You Know.” The Washington Post, Apr. 9, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2018/04/09/the-war-in-ukraine-is-more-devastating-than-you-know/?utm_term=.aa3051b39b9d

“Global Conflict Tracker: Conflict in Ukraine.” Council on Foreign Relations, July 2, 2019. https://www.cfr.org/interactive/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine

Lally, Kathy. “Ousted Ukraine President Warns of Civil War, Criticizes U.S. for Aiding Current Government.” The Washington Post, March 11, 2014. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ousted-ukraine-president-warns-of-civil-war-criticizes-us-for-aiding-current-government/2014/03/11/13fd0482-a907-11e3-b61e-8051b8b52d06_story.html

Messori, Erik. “Ukraine: The Forgotten War.” Al Jazeera, Apr. 7, 2019. https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/ukraine-forgotten-war-190407053834708.html

N.S. “The Economist Explains: What Are the Minsk Agreements?” The Economist, Sept. 14, 2016. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2016/09/13/what-are-the-minsk-agreements

Raphelson, Samantha. “'Simmering Conflict' in Eastern Ukraine Remains at an Impasse.” NPR, Jan. 10, 2018. https://www.npr.org/2018/01/10/577104670/simmering-conflict-in-eastern-ukraine-remains-at-an-impasse

Reuters. “Five Years After Crimea, Ukraine's Conflict With Russian-backed Separatists Still Simmering.” Haaretz, March 18, 2019. https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/five-years-later-ukraine-s-conflict-with-russian-backed-separatists-still-simmering-1.7038649

Yuhas, Alan and Raya Jalabi. “Ukraine's Revolution and Russia's Occupation of Crimea: How We Got Here.” The Guardian, March 5, 2014. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/ukraine-russia-explainer

Immediately after the film, you may want to give people a few quiet moments to reflect on what they have seen or pose a general question (examples below) and give people some time to themselves to jot down or think about their answers before opening the discussion:

• Why do you think the film is named The Distant Barking of Dogs?
• What did you learn from this film? Did you gain new insight?
• Describe a moment or scene in the film that you found particularly disturbing or moving. What was it about that scene that was especially compelling for you?
• Did anything in the film surprise you? Was anything familiar?
• If you could ask anyone in the film a single question, whom would you ask and what would you want to know?

In many moments we witness Yarik and Oleg playing like regular kids, but their fun is cut short by the dangers present in a war zone. What do you notice about their everyday experiences that are different from your own? What kinds of limitations do Yarik and Oleg experience as kids growing up in Hnutove? How would you feel if you were living in this village right now?

The three young boys are very intrigued by weaponry, the very paraphernalia that has caused harm and destruction to their families and community. Why do you think they are curious about objects like bullets, mines and guns? Do you think they are conditioned as boys to be unafraid of weapons, or even to become familiar with them? Why?

Oleg, Yarik and Kostya casually discuss the dangers of war and exploding mines in their neighborhood. War-related drills seem to have become common in Oleg’s school. Violence has become normalized and the boys seem to be becoming desensitized to it. What do you think are some of the longterm effects on children of witnessing violence repeatedly? Even if Oleg and his grandmother left their home, how do you imagine their experiences in Hnotuve might impact them in the future?

Oleg, reflecting on Yarik’s departure, says, “He can’t live without his mom like I can.” What do Oleg’s words make you feel? Does it seem he is forced to grow up too quickly?

Oleg tries hard to be tough, even though he is living in a frightening situation. He is only 10 years old. Why do you think he feels that he must mask his fear as an adult would?

Alexandra (Oleg’s grandmother) explains, “Our souls are rooted in this house.” Why do you think Oleg and his grandmother do not leave Hnutove?

Oleg plays in abandoned buildings and sites that have been destroyed by war. There are many such sites in the village. How do you think Oleg and his companions feel being surrounded by ruins? How might (or do) you feel if your neighborhood buildings were (or are) neglected and damaged?

At one point, Alexandra says, “We are part of this place, part of this land.” We watch Oleg playing on the land and the family using their land for survival; we also witness the destruction of the land near the village. In what ways are Oleg and Alexandra connected to the land? What do you think this relationship means to them? In what ways do you feel connected to the land you occupy?

Oleg and his grandmother install new wallpaper in their house that bears a large, vivid image of a forest. Why do you think Oleg is so taken with this image?

“When the soldiers arrived, people moved away,'' explains Alexandra. What might be the impact of depopulation of your home community? Have you ever been forced to move away from home? What did you feel you lost? If you haven’t been forced to move away from home, what kinds of bonds do you have with your neighbors, teachers, peers, friends and family members? How would you feel if these people were suddenly scattered?

According to international law, a refugee is a person who flees their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution and the failure of their own state to protect them against that persecution. This legal definition was designed by the United Nations to exclude economic migrants, victims of natural disasters and people fleeing generalized violence but not subject to specific persecution “for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” Countries are entitled, but not required, to grant asylum to these migrants. What do you think of the current international law governing those fleeing violent conflicts? What obligations should other countries have toward refugees who leave their own countries to escape war? In your view, should countries have different obligations to migrants depending on factors such as proximity, wealth, ethnic or religious composition, histories of military intervention and colonialism and so on?

It seems that the violence and constant fear are making Alexandra sick. She is given medication to cope with panic, yet she is unable to leave the situation that threatens her health. Have you ever had health issues related to broader national events, such as military conflict, political unrest or environmental destruction? Should considerations of public health be taken into account when countries make decisions about international relations?

The war occupies the subjects’ daily lives. Yarik and Oleg contemplate which dogs are army dogs and which aren’t. They plan where to sleep if shooting starts. They reinforce the glass in their house in case bombs rattle the shelves. What are other ways that you notice war becoming a normal part of everyday life for the family? How does this normalization of war make you feel? Are there scenarios in your own life in which you have had to make certain things feel normal but doing so makes you uncomfortable?

“It seems as if our lives are frozen. We are like animals hiding from the winter and waiting for the cold to end,” says Alexandra. What toll do you think this waiting takes on the families that remain?

The resilient Alexandra shares why she covers up her fear. She explains, “My hands tremble involuntarily, and I can't make them stop. To hide this from the kids, I start cleaning... The kids laugh and say that I am crazy, but it's better for them not to know the truth.” Alexandra is protecting Oleg and Yarik by hiding her fear. What toll do you think this takes on her? Do you think that she has other strategies for balancing her fear with her role as a caretaker?

The adults in the film make sacrifices to protect the youth. In what ways do you also witness young people providing support to the adults?

In a scene where Kostya and Oleg are exploring, they begin to hear bombing or shooting nearby. Kostya asks Oleg if he wants to go home. Oleg declines and tells Kostya, “We’re men. We have to be able to endure everything.” What do you think Oleg means when he says this? What do you think Oleg’s relationship is to his own feelings of fear, and how are those feelings influenced by cultural expectations about masculinity?

Soldiers are typically referred to as men in the film. How do you think this ongoing conflict and the role of men in the army have affected gender dynamics in the country? How have they impacted how Oleg and the young boys in the film see themselves as boys and men?

Oleg’s mother has died, but his grandmother acts as his caretaker. His cousin Yarik seems like a brother. How do you think the armed conflict has deepened these bonds?

Oleg’s family is not a typical nuclear family. Are there people in your life beyond your immediate family who have stepped in to play supportive roles? What is the importance of these kinds of bonds? How do these bonds help Oleg and the other characters withstand the war?

At the end of your discussion, to help people synthesize what they’ve experienced and move the focus from dialogue to action steps, you may want to choose one of these questions:

• What did you learn from this film that you wish everyone knew? What would change if everyone knew it?
• If you could require one person (or one group) to view this film, who would it be? What would you hope their main takeaway would be?
• The story of Oleg and his family is important because ___________.
• Complete this sentence: I am inspired by this film (or discussion) to __________.

Additional media literacy questions are available on the AmDoc website.

If the group is having trouble generating ideas for next steps, these suggestions can help get things started:

● Learn about the barriers Western journalists face getting access to Ukraine to report on the conditions and realities of war in the country.

● Learn about the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine through a variety of media sources that describe the conflict from multiple angles.

● Talk to a mental health professional about your own mental health, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

● Connect with groups that advocate for inclusion of mental health in traditional healthcare and health insurance coverage to learn about their work.

● Stand up against persecution in your own community when you encounter it. Report acts of violence against ethnic minority groups. Some resources include the local police (who typically track hate-crime data, which gets reported to the FBI), your local chapter of the ACLU and the Southern Poverty Law Center. Consider also researching local civic groups and NGOs that respond to hate crimes.

● Organize opportunities for men and boys to express and explore emotions freely in a space free from judgement and stigma.

The Distant Barking of Dogs

Official film website with information about the film team, festivals and awards.

POV: The Distant Barking of Dogs

POV’s film page includes links where you can download additional resources and get help hosting a screening.

"The Economist Explains: What Are the Minsk Agreements?"

Information from The Economist about the two agreements that attempted to halt the war in the Donbas region in Ukraine.

European Parliamentary Research Service Blog: “Refugee Status Under International Law”

A report by Ionel Zamfir published on the European Parliamentary Research Service Blog breaks down the definitions of refugees and asylum seekers.

Geneva Statement on Ukraine

This joint statement was issued by Representatives of the European Union, the United States, Ukraine and the Russian Federation and calls for disarmament of armed groups, the return of illegally seized buildings and amnesty for protestors who vacate buildings and surrender their weapons.

"'I Don’t See a Future Here': Life in Eastern Ukraine after Five Years of War"

Testimonials from civilians on all sides of the conflict gathered by the Donbas desk of RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty in April 2019, five years after the war’s outbreak.

The Lancet: "New WHO Prevalence Estimates of Mental Disorders in Conflict Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis"

This article reports the results of a study that examines mental health challenges in conflict settings.

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: “Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine”

A 2017 report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

People's Council of the Donetsk People’s Republic

The Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine is considered by the Ukrainian government one of three illegally occupied territories. The area receives humanitarian and military backing from Russia, and Ukraine is currently at war with the proto-state.

"Ukraine: The Forgotten War"

This photo essay by Erik Messori published in Al Jazeera shows the impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians in 2019.

"Ukraine's Revolution and Russia's Occupation of Crimea: How We Got Here"

An article from The Guardian provides an overview of the 2014 Ukraine Revolution, a series of violent events that involved protesters, riot police and other violent actors in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.