Memory
2025
director
Vladlena Sandu
cinematographer
Liza Popova
description
Vladlena was born in Crimea in 1982. After her parents’ divorce, at the age of 6, she moves to her mother’s homeland in Grozny, Chechnya, where she enters the first grade at school. The Soviet Union falls apart. Crimea, where her father lives, becomes part of Ukraine. Suddenly, her Russian-speaking classmates and friends are leaving the Chechen republic. This is related to the resurgence of a national conflict that began with the native Chechens’ deportation to Kazakhstan in 1944.
Chechens are returning to Chechnya en masse. In 1992 an armed conflict erupts in the region and quickly starts to escalate. Her Russian neighbors are murdered and the lives of her family members are threatened. In 1994 military operations begin in the city of Grozny. Vladlena’s grandfather dies. Vladlena’s mother is wounded and becomes handicapped. Finally, her family comes under an armed attack. Vladlena manages to escape.
In 1998 she receives the status of a displaced person in Russia. The experience of war leaves its mark and leads her to develop PTSD. In this autobiographical film, Vladlena turns to her childhood memories, surviving family archives, and historical artifacts, as well as her deepest traumatic experiences in order to find an answer to a question that continues to haunt her: why did her family choose to remain in a war zone?
festivals & awards
2025
Venice Film Festival
Audience Choice Award
2025
SEMINCI Valladolid
“Time of History” Award
2025
Visions du Réel
VdR Industry Raggioverde Subtitling Award
2025
European Film Awards
Shortlist
2025
Marrakech International Film Festival
Jury Prize
2025
Bergen International Film Festival
Best International Documentary
2025
Athens Film Festival
Best Screenplay Award
2026
Artdocfest
Grand Prix
2026
Innsbruck International Film Festiva
Best Documentary Film Award
2026
Transilvania International Film Festival
Best Documentary Film Award
2026
SXSW London
Best Feature Film Award
2026
HUMAN International Documentary Film Festival
Special Mention
2026
New Zealand International Film Festival
DocPlay Frames Competition Winner
2026
BELDOCS
Special Jury Mention
2026
Luxembourg City Film Festival
Best Documentary Film
2026
International Festival Signs of the Night, Bangkok
Signs Award, Documentary Section