The Illusion of a Quiet Night

Official selection

In every war, normal life continues in spite of everything — but can it really be called normal? THE ILLUSION OF A QUIET NIGHT shows that "normal" life in Ukraine is a fiction. Particularly during the night, when Russia bombards the cities with drones and missiles. This dialogue-free film offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of life in Ukraine during a single night. On the night of July 27-28, 2025, 40 professional camera operators and 300 members of the public filmed at more than 60 locations, including in occupied territory and on the front line. The result is a portrait of a world full of contradictions. While revelers party in a nightclub, a wounded soldier is carried into a field hospital. And as the grain harvest continues in the countryside, air-raid sirens sound in Kyiv, where residents flee to a metro station for shelter. A quiet night is an illusion in Ukraine, but the people's quiet determination leaves a lasting impression. When the night is over, everyone calmly leaves the shelter and a new day begins.