Creating Art in Crisis: The Power of 'Mother'

Life goes on, despite all obstacles that get put in our path.

Mother is a short film directed by Mariia Felenko. As war looms in Ukraine, a young woman named Katya is determined to leave her hometown. Katia wants to take her mother with her, but her mother is busy painting her nails, oblivious to the situation.

Mother, a five-minute film presented at Regent Theatre’s Manhattan Short Film Festival, treated audiences to a profound and evocative experience. Despite its short duration, this film delivers an emotional and impactful message about family. Mother is not just a narrative about war; it’s a deeply personal story that resonates universally.

The short film stars Veronika Shostak (Katia) and Inna Belikova (Mother Lena). Shostak is a well-known actress in Ukraine. She has starred in films like The Guide and Easy. Felenko did not hesitate to reach out to Shostak to star in her film, having seen her in a theater in Kyiv. Shostak did a commendable job with her character’s motivations along with her emotions.

During the casting call for Mother Lena, many self-audition tapes were received, and Inna Belikova’s was deemed to be the best of them. Belikova’s character was funny while she was happily painting her nails.

Shostak and Belikova embodied a genuine mother-daughter relationship. However, the contrast between Katia’s fear and her mother’s detachment creates a tension that underlines the film’s commentary on how people cope with crises. It also demonstrates the sad fact that families often go their separate ways.

Maria Felenko directed several short films during her university studies, many of which were showcased at various film festivals, including her thesis project, Butterfly Dance. Her inspiration for Mother came from the story ‘When Whales Go Bad’ by Katya Uteva, which is part of the anthology, ‘War: Inside and Out.’ Felenko wrote the script to blend literature with her own personal experiences.

The whole process took seven months to complete. Filming started in October 2022, right when Russia began attacking Kyiv. It brought some challenges to filming, as the film was shot there during the dangerous shelling and blackouts. Felenko mentioned that some people only have one hour of electricity per day during the ongoing war.

Despite these difficulties, Felenko and her team didn’t give up. They believed the seriousness of what was at stake fueled the team’s creative outlets and belief in the project. I always like to learn behind-the-scenes facts, it’s one of my favorite parts of filmmaking. There’s truly a story behind everything.

These events bring a great sense of urgency to the film. The cinematography does an outstanding job of making viewers feel the fear of the situation. There are quick edits and fast camera motions from Katia’s perspective, then everything calms down with Lena, who ignores the catastrophic fighting outside the building.

It’s puzzling as to why Lena was so relaxed until the message became apparent. The moral of Mother shows that despite all obstacles, life goes on. It’s the same message, but in contrasting lights, between the two characters. We can’t let life’s tragic outcomes get in the way of living our lives. Whether you choose to leave or stay, your decisions are based on your outlook.

“Today, for me, cinema is an opportunity to speak to the world and remind everyone that the war continues,” Felenko says. Filmmaking has not stopped in Ukraine. Mother is a testament to the resilience of the Ukrainian filmmakers who continue to create art despite unimaginable obstacles.

Mother leaves a profound impact in its five-minute runtime. It sparks themes about resilience, relationships, and the human cost of war. It made a strong impact on audiences at the film festival. Maria Felenko’s short film is a testament to the power of storytelling in the face of adversity.