Close Relations

The 2016 documentary film directed by Vitaly Mansky, co-produced by Germany, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine, explores the aftermath of the Euromaidan and subsequent events in Ukraine through the lens of the director's family members living in various regions of the country. Mansky embarks on a journey across Ukraine, visiting relatives in Lviv, Odessa, Donbas, and Crimea to understand how political upheavals have affected their lives and perspectives. The film portrays the diversity of opinions and emotions within a single family, reflecting the complexity and multifaceted nature of Ukrainian society during the crisis. The film premiered on July 5, 2016, at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, competing in the documentary competition. Its Ukrainian premiere took place on July 20, 2016, at the Odesa International Film Festival in the "Special Screenings" section. Additionally, the film was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 14, 2016, competing for the People's Choice Documentary Award in the TIFF DOCS program. On October 14, 2016, "Close Relations" opened the Riga International Film Festival.