Movie Screening "Rock Paper Grenade", September 23

On September 23, we screened the Ukrainian drama “Rock Paper Grenade”, directed by Iryna Tsilyk and based on Artem Chekh’s novel “Who Are You?”. The film tells the story of a boy growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine and his complex friendship with Felix, a veteran struggling with his past.

After the screening, we were joined by Iryna Tsilyk for an online Q&A from Kyiv. She shared how elements of her own family’s history and memories shaped the film — from clothing and props to the emotional tone of certain scenes. Iryna also shared the challenges of recreating the 1990s atmosphere, balancing authenticity with storytelling, and portraying morally complex characters, who are neither heroes nor villains but deeply human, and how the story became a personal reflection on memory, family, and growing up. The discussion felt very open and heartfelt, offering a glimpse into how personal experience can transform into universal cinema.

We’re deeply grateful to Iryna Tsilyk for sharing her time and insights, and to everyone who joined us for this thoughtful and moving evening.