The Long February, doc, 79 mins, DCP, 5.1., DE/UA
The premiere took place on International Human Rights Day (10 December 2025).
The event was held simultaneously at the Frankfurt Film Museum and in a cinema in Bucha. Both events were very well attended. The film is now available for special events, screenings and non-commercial showings — especially for clubs, churches, educational institutions, initiatives and organisations of all kinds.
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Logline: February 2022, a month that seems to have no end.
The Long February follows residents of Bucha as they recount their lives under Russian occupation. We learn how they cope with their trauma today, each in their own way. Their collective testimonies create a symphony of diverse perspectives. One such story is about the choir of St. Andriy, who lost one of its voices to cold-blooded murder by Russian soldiers. The music of the choir acts as a leitmotif throughout the film. The film tells the story of the occupation with interviews, as well as videos made by locals and recordings of surveillance cameras. It features unseen footage from the occupation.
Synopsis:
Starting with the experiences of a Ukrainian police officer who stayed behind during the occupation, the film recounts how the invasion of the town on the city border of Kyiv took place. It dives into what happened around the Street, where a Russian column was completely destroyed, and what occurred near the local church. The film tells the story of the occupation with interviews, videos made by locals and recordings by surveillance cameras.
The film is informative, emotional and, of course, difficult to digest. It is one of those films that everyone should see who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the events of 2022 than the news reports convey.
commented Oleh kotsarev, reporter with DEUTSCHTE WELLE
The protagonists offer insights into their fears under occupation, the starvation, and the daily fight for basic needs, such as trying to obtain fresh water—all while being shot at by Russian soldiers.
The film also tells the story of the Saint-Andriy’s Church choir. In front of the church, the local government had to dig a mass grave due to the number of civilians shot by Russian soldiers during the occupation. A member of the choir, Andriy S., was murdered in cold blood, along with several of his relatives. Their bodies were piled up and burned, presumably in an attempt to destroy the evidence of the crime. I was able to identify a survivor from this family, who shares how she copes with the trauma of losing her close relatives, like Andriy S., as well as her husband.
All of these stories intertwine in the end and show how the inhabitants of Bucha are individually dealing with the trauma—some with tears, others with sarcasm.
This film aims to tell the stories of the murdered, whom the Western public only knows as anonymous reports in headlines. The murdered are given back their identity and dignity. The film serves as a reminder of what is still happening in occupied Ukraine and why the country must free its people and territory. It is a testament to the unbreakable will of the Ukrainian people.
Choir of St. Andriy’s Church, contributed to the soundtrack
For this documentary, the choir sang in remembrance of the victims (pictured on the right). Several songs were contributed to the soundtrack. During the final shoot, a beam of light appeared in the gap between the singers—an unplanned moment that gave the scene a sense of divine intervention.
Director’s comment:
This project was particularly important to me, and the production felt especially close to my heart. My own relatives had to flee from Irpin, the neighboring town of Bucha, and were in immediate danger. Personal contacts played a role in the production, as I was able to bring in protagonists who hadn’t spoken to (Western) media before, such as the very brave police officer Vadym.
The post-production was funded by Hessen Film & Medien, the Film fund of the federal German State of Hessen.
The film is currently seeking for an international distributor. Distributors can request a screener link by mail: info[at]michael-stadnik[dot]de
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