Where Everything Disappears

Ukrainian cinematographer and pacifist Dmytro Dokunov founds an eco-village in a picturesque corner of Ukraine’s mountains. Freely, joyfully and creatively these children of nature tend their homes and gardens, while also meditating, swimming in paradise-like waterfalls and loving life in a way that is only possible with youthful maximalism. However, Dmytro receives a conscription notice from the Ukrainian Army to fight against Russian aggression. He begins shooting a war diary with a mobile phone – footage documenting combat units, fellow comrades, fear and his increasingly bitter attempts at understanding how to be a soldier, as someone who believes in pacifism. When Dmytro is heavily injured in Bakhmut, he seeks refuge and healing in the mountains. The war hero title doesn’t help much. Plagued by painful memories, Dmytro learns to live again and to create an environment where peace prevails.

For 20 years, Ukrainian director, journalist and anthropologist Oleksandr Tkachenko has been producing material for national media and has collaborated with international institutions such as the Council of Europe and EUBAM. He has also worked as an advertising and music video director. “Where Everything Disappears” is his first international feature film that was created as part of the ARTE “Generation Ukraine” initiative. The film’s world premiere took place at FIPADOC 2026 in France. At Docudays UA 2026 it received the Viktor Onysko Memorial Prize for best film editing in a Ukrainian documentary. After finishing the film, Oleksandr joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine.