Memory

Drawn from the director’s childhood memories, this haunting visual poem transforms Barbie dolls into casualties of war, where fairy tales blur into nightmares.

Memories do not return in chronological order, they surface in fragments. Drawing on family stories, personal experiences, and overheard conversations, director Vladlena Sandu crafts an autobiographical reflection on her childhood against the backdrop of the Chechen War. Personal memory merges with the recollections of others, while reality intertwines with theatrical, poetic reconstructions that evoke the singular cinematic language of Sergei Parajanov. In her debut feature, Sandu explores how violence is passed down from one generation to the next, what memory chooses to preserve, and whether it is possible to break free from the cycle of violence.

„Vladena Sandu confidently uses not only the tools of documentary cinema, but those of fiction as well, blending staged (or rather, reenacted) scenes, documentary and archival footage, and visual metaphors. This distinctive cinematic language is complemented by a heart-wrenching narrative that is unafraid to lay itself bare, bridging personal and collective memory. This is a film that attests to the impressive mastery of a debut director and the birth of a truly original author’s voice.“ – Eva Sinicaitė, curator of the Emerging Filmmakers Competition programme.

Venice Film Festival 2025 — People’s Choice Award at Giornate degli autori
IDFA 2025
Athens International Film Festival 2025 — Best Screenplay Award
Luxembourg City Film Festival 2026 — Best Documentary Film