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As It Was

Name: As It Was
Director: Anastasia Solonevych, Damian Kocur
Released: 2023
Duration: 15 min

Representation Score

5.1/10

Fair

2023

Director

Anastasia Solonevych, Damian Kocur

Runtime

15 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

As It Was is a character-driven drama that centers on the psychological impact of geopolitical conflict. By focusing on Lera's journey from Berlin to Kyiv, the film prioritizes her autonomy and the complex emotions of displacement over traditional escapist narratives. The film offers a grounded exploration of national identity and the instability of 'home' during wartime. It moves away from patriotic clichés to focus on personal necessity and the fragmentation of identity. However, the film remains within standard dramatic boundaries regarding social hierarchies. It does not overtly engage with LGBTQ+ representation or multi-ethnic casting, maintaining a more homogeneous focus on the specific Ukrainian experience.

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Category Breakdown

Does As It Was have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly depict LGBTQ+ relationships or non-cisgender identities. It focuses on family reunification and friendships.

How does As It Was portray gender?

Fair

Lera is a strong female lead whose actions drive the plot. The story emphasizes her psychological state and her response to crisis.

How racially and ethnically diverse is As It Was?

Fair

The cast appears to be primarily of Ukrainian descent, highlighting the tension between Western and Eastern European cultures.

How does As It Was represent religion and culture?

Good

The film provides a nuanced look at cultural belonging and displacement. It portrays the home environment as uncertain rather than stable.

Does As It Was include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities shown in the narrative. No specific data is available for this category.

Present on Screen

Strong female lead whose actions drive the emotional arc.
Nuanced exploration of cultural identity and the complexities of displacement.
Realistic approach to the psychological effects of war.

Limited or Absent

Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ representation or non-cisgender identities.
Homogeneous casting that avoids multi-ethnic or diverse racial perspectives.
Absence of disability representation within the narrative.

Official Synopsis

Lera has been living in Berlin for almost a year after the start of the war in Ukraine. Lera does not feel well in Berlin and makes an impulsive decision to go to Kyiv, for the first time during the war. On the way to Kyiv, she learns that her family is not in Kyiv, and will come only the next day. Therefore, she meets her friend Kyryl, with whom she spends the day, as she used to before the war. In the morning, Lera meets her mother and sister, and finally feels at home. But she still doubts whether she will stay in Kyiv or go back to Berlin.

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