In the heart of society’s half-oblivion, where struggles loom large and isolation grips tight, a jolt is needed to awaken to the truth and banish cruelty’s grip.
While working on this project in Russia, I met many families that have experienced sorrow, which has touched their lives with new feelings.
The mothers of children born with this particular syndrome are carrying out their life sentence.
I spent time with different families in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg and lived in the village “Svetlana”, which is organized for people with special needs.
All of the necessary amenities were provided so that children could study, develop, and live a full, valuable life.
They baked bread, took care of animals, built houses, and created and communicated beautiful feelings.
During all the time I worked on the film, I came to love those people and their world – so deep, beautiful, different, sensitive, open, and sincere at the same time.
I still hear their poems in my mind.
In our encounters, there was a young boy whose actions defied expectations, causing doubt to cloud the minds of those around him. But in a moment of clarity, he pierced through their assumptions with profound insight, uttering words that resonated deeply: “Too many shepherds for one sheep.” These individuals, though they may appear different, inhabit a world that is rich with depth, delicacy, and surprises beyond imagination.
We must embrace this wisdom and approach life with open eyes, casting aside cruelty and isolation. Instead, let us open our hearts to others with love, compassion, and grace, just as any human should.