A House Made of Splinters

An intimate documentary portrait of caregivers nurturing abandoned children in a war-adjacent refuge, balancing profound warmth and human connection against the systemic darkness and uncertainty surrounding these vulnerable lives.

A temporary house for abandoned children near the front line in eastern Ukraine is run by a small group of social workers determined to provide comfort and safety. It may be humble and somewhat run-down, but this house is filled with love and offers up to nine months of refuge to kids whose fate will be determined by the system. During this short time, the caretakers try to nurture within them a sense of stability and normalcy.