Warmly observed documentary follows Nikita, confined with thousands of others to the Ukrainian city’s metro as war goes on above ground While war rages on, hope continues to take root underground in Ivan Ostrochovský and Pavol Pekarčík’s moving documentary. Shot in the Kharkiv metro in Ukraine, the film follows Nikita, a spirited 12-year-old, during his daily routines in what has become a cavernous bomb shelter. Seeking refuge from the endless bombing and shelling, thousands call the metro their new home, bringing with them the barest of necessities. Lit by stark fluorescent lights, this subterranean hideout has no sunlight, yet it glows with the warmth of camaraderie and community. Often at Nikita’s eye level, the camera observes the metro through his gaze. An air of precariousness and danger hangs in the air, as the inhabitants speak of food scarcity, illnesses caused by prolonged confinement and the bloodshed that occurs just above ground. With its echoing tunnels, abandoned carriages and wartime messages blasting through intercom speakers, the metro resembles a sci-fi dystopia; like Nikita, however, Photophobia searches for small joys in times of darkness. Though both have experienced unimaginable loss and trauma, Nikita and his new friend Vika make up their own adventures and in these moments of play are allowed to be children again. Continue reading...