On Ukrainian Railway Day, film production company KALYNA FILM unveiled a captivating teaser for their documentary, "Life Train".

The title's clever wordplay brilliantly encapsulates the film's essence and purpose. It narrates the story of a train traversing a war-torn landscape, braving enemy fire in a heroic effort to bring countless civilian lives to safety. Moreover, this "train" symbolizes the intrinsic human drive for survival amidst the most challenging circumstances. It undertakes a profound mission—not only to endure these extreme conditions but to provide safeguard and assistance to others, embodying a testament to the resilience of humanity.

Stories That Will Resonate Through the World's History of the Biggest Civilian Evacuations

Nightfall. Iryna is startled awake by the shrill ring of her phone. "Mom, a full-scale war has broken out!" her son's urgent voice comes through the line. He tells her to pack essentials, gather important documents, and seek shelter from the enemy bombardments. With a resolve as steady as steel, he pledges to defend Mariupol to his last breath. Iryna swiftly gathers her belongings, secures her documents, and steps into what will unfold as the most perilous journey of her life.

Iryna's story, that of a steadfast train conductor, is a thread intricately woven through the fabric of the entire film. From the dawn of war, she, alongside her colleagues, devoted herself to managing evacuation trains. Amidst this, Iryna faces a heart-wrenching personal tragedy as her son falls captive to Russian forces. Yet, she, along with her railway team, remains undeterred in their mission — to bring as many lives as they can to safety.

No evacuation train can roll out without the green light from the duty dispatcher, Tetyana. As she reaches for the walkie-talkie, her eyes catch the eerie glow of red sniper laser sights tracing across the room's walls. A relentless barrage of gunfire assails the control tower, and amidst the tumult, a bullet whizzes past Tetyana, cutting her hair and leaving her dazed. Yet it didn’t deter her from her responsibilities. It's her duty to signal the train conductors to embark on their crucial voyage. These are the first days of the Russian-Ukrainian war, a time when the swift evacuation of hundreds of thousands isn't just vital — it's imperative.

Days before her scheduled train ride, a train conductor, Oksana is haunted by a vivid dream — an enemy missile crashing perilously close to her train car, yet miraculously not exploding. The platform is strewn with people, anxiously waiting for an explosion that never happens. In a harrowing turn of events, Oksana's dream materializes into a nightmarish reality when a Russian missile strikes the passenger cars, imprinting the incident into memory in a way that sends shivers down her spine. For the very first time in this film, Oksana and her colleague muster the courage to recount the challenges they faced and the circumstances that allowed them to survive.

Upon receiving urgent orders, Dmytro and his team spring into action to swiftly evacuate hazardous materials from Kyiv, aiming to prevent a potential man-made disaster if the enemy hits the train carrying those materials. Amid these perilous endeavors, his wife and children seek refuge in a basement, evading the advancing Russian forces. Despite his personal fears, his decisive actions shield thousands of Kyiv residents from a looming, life-threatening technogenic catastrophe.

This narrative is but a glimpse into the wealth of moving stories encapsulated within "Life Train." The documentary unveils the indomitable spirit of ordinary railway workers who, amid dire circumstances, executed extraordinary actions to protect their fellow citizens and their homeland.

In the production of this film, testimonies from over 60 railway workers across numerous regions of Ukraine were meticulously compiled. A rich treasure of over 100 hours of original video material, brimming with exclusive personal accounts, was carefully gathered.

The narrative is enriched with remarkable archival footage from the participants' phones, harmoniously intertwined with striking documentation of events from the first day of Russia's invasion into Ukrainian territory.

More than evoking fear or sympathy, the grim backdrop underscores a pivotal and inspiring truth: the resilience and unity of Ukrainians amid harrowing reality.

This film unfolds an emotional saga of an unparalleled struggle, a testament to the unwavering belief and support extended by the world. The extraordinary dedication of those captured by Kalyna Film’s crew.

The work invested in producing this film spanned nearly a year, and even in its earliest stages, the project captivated the attention of international distributors, bearing witness to its global significance.

Gustavo Aparicio, CEO of Spanglish Movies:

"We take immense pride in our ability to aid those who safeguarded the lives of countless Ukrainian women and children during the initial weeks and months of the Russian-Ukrainian war. This monumental undertaking was accomplished by everyday individuals, united in their mission to shield the most vulnerable amidst this war. It's a privilege to be able to share this remarkable tale and the message of hope that it conveys".

Halyna Khrapko, CEO of KALYNA FILM  and a creative producer of the film "Life Train":

"This signifies an unmatched civilian evacuation in the records of modern wars. It appeared as if, in a singular moment, our whole nation had found its spot aboard one resilient train, naming it the 'Life Train’.  We've incorporated this symbolism not only in the film's title but have also integrated it throughout the entire narrative."

Oleksandr Tymenko, director of the film "Life Train":

"Our documentary refrains from any external commentary. Instead, we allow the testimonials to be conveyed directly from the participants and eyewitnesses, the unknown heroes of 'Life Train'. This approach aligns with the essence of documentary filmmaking, where viewers connect deeply with the authenticity of the stories, unfiltered by external voices.

Halyna Khrapko, CEO of KALYNA FILM  and a creative producer of the film "Life Train":

"This film has come to fruition through the relentless dedication of our entire team. Without the inspiring stories of those individuals who, right from the outset of the full-scale war, infused their work with courage, humanity, and self-sacrifice, it would have never been possible to produce it in the first place. The world must recognize their actions and ensure it is never forgotten".

 

This film was produced by "KALYNA FILM" LLC in partnership with "Glory to Ukraine" International Charitable Foundation.

Production year – 2023

Running time  – 100 minutes

Original language – Ukrainian

Other languages include  - English, Polish, Dutch, German, French

Director – Oleksandr Tymenko

Creative producer – Halyna Khrapko