Wounded Game

The story is set in the immediate postwar years when shortages and reconstruction shape daily life. Children grow up amid shelters, poverty, and shifting social norms. The narrative uses specific moments—like trading a gramophone for bread—to anchor the era in memory.

Odessa serves as the backdrop for Alexey's harsh postwar childhood. The city is depicted through crowded streets, an orphanage, and street-life survival. Its atmosphere mirrors the trauma and resilience of a society rebuilding after the war.

🕊️ War and Loss

The film centers on how war shatters families and leaves lasting scars on children. Alexey grows up without parents, in an orphanage and on the streets, carrying losses that never fully heal. The search for siblings becomes a way to confront trauma and seek closure.

🧭 Memory and Identity

Memory is treated as a puzzle built from fragments: archival records, whispered hints, and childhood recollections. Alexey uses these pieces to reconstruct who he is and where he comes from. The film questions how much of a life is defined by what we remember versus what is forgotten.

🏚️ Survival and Resilience

Survival in postwar Odessa drives the characters to improvise, whether swapping a stolen gramophone for bread or sharing scarce resources. The siblings' bond persists despite deception and fear, illustrating resilience in the face of deprivation. The story emphasizes endurance as a central response to collective trauma.