The Distant Barking of Dogs

Saturday, January 12, 2019

The life of a 10-year-old child includes a healthy dose of curiosity and adventure. But the days of Oleg, who lives in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine –  just minutes from where Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces are at war – are often interrupted by echoes of anti-aircraft fire and missile strikes. Oleg and his cousin Yarik are young boys whose play fights and restlessness often lead them towards dangerous discoveries. But as this touching and intimate film evolves, we bear witness to the unique pressures that come with living adjacent to a war zone, and the gradual erosion of innocence under intense psychological burdens. As the world shakes around them, the beauty of childhood friendship becomes ever more important for survival.

Official selection: Human Rights Watch Film Festival; Amsterdam Int’l Documentary Festival 2017 – Winner for Best First Appearance, CPH:DOX 2018, San Francisco Int’l Film Festival – Winner for Documentary Feature, !f Istanbul Int’l Independent Film Festival, Göteburg Film Festival – Winner for Best Nordic Documentary, Hong Kong Int’l Film Festival, Hot Docs Canadian Int’l Documentary Festival

• Country Denmark
• Language In Ukrainian with English subtitles.
• Running Time 90 minutes
• Director Simon Lereng Wilmont
• Writer Simon Lereng Wilmont
• Editor Michael Aaglund
• Cinematographer Simon Lereng Wilmont

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.