Ukrainian Documentary “Divia” to Be Screened at UN Climate Conference in Brazil
A Ukrainian documentary “Divia” exploring the devastating impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine’s natural environment will be presented at the United Nations International Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Suspilne.
The film, directed by Dmytro Hreshko, draws a haunting portrait of a country whose landscapes have been scarred by invasion, destruction, and ecological catastrophe.
Running from November 10 to 21, the UN Climate Conference is the world’s leading multilateral forum dedicated to climate policy. As part of the official program at the Ukraine Pavilion, Divia will be introduced by producers Polina Herman and Hlib Lukyanets. The international promotion of the film is supported by the Ukrainian Institute and Eurimages.
The title Divia comes from an ancient Slavic goddess of nature, symbolizing the mother of all living things. Through powerful imagery and sound, the film reflects on how Russia’s aggression has desecrated Ukraine’s natural heritage from forests and rivers to wildlife sanctuaries.
Director Dmytro Hreshko describes the project as both a visual lament and a warning. “Divia is about loss and the pain of realizing that something as sacred as nature has been violated and destroyed,” he explains. “During filming, I couldn’t shake the analogy: Russia’s imperial policy acts like cancer cells in a body, consuming its host until it collapses. That became the central metaphor of the film.”
Production began in spring 2022, spanning territories near the front line and Ukraine’s nature reserves. The film features footage from liberated regions, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv, as well as from Donetsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
It also documents the flooded lands of Kherson following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, the rescue of animals, and the profound ecological consequences of the disaster.
Archival footage from Ukraїner shows the beauty of Ukraine’s environment before the invasion, including scenes from Oleshky Sands National Park and Crimea, providing a stark contrast between past serenity and present devastation.
As The Gaze reported earlier, the world premiere of the documentary film ‘Divia’ by Ukrainian director Dmytro Hreshko took place at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 6 July.
Read also on The Gaze: Ukrainian Cinema: 9 Must-Watch Films That Define a Nation’s Spirit