"A House Made of Splinters" - Children of War have voices too
The Consulate General of Denmark is proud to announce that together with the Consulate General of Ukraine and in collaboration with the World Affairs Council, we held a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “A House Made of Splinters” — a touching story of hope and resilience in the face of war - in San Francisco on March 6th.
The documentary is produced jointly by Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden and Finland and chronicles the lives of children from a destroyed orphanage in the Luhansk region whose world was turned upside down when the full-scale invasion of Russia against Ukraine began. The film takes a deep dive into the long-term effects of war and the toll it takes on the most vulnerable members of society.
The film crew, including the Danish Film Director, Simon Lereng Wilmont, Assistant Director Azad Safarov, and featured Psychologist Olena Rozvadovska joined the event and engaged with the audience in a Q&A session after the screening. “A House Made of Splinters” is Wilmont’s second film shot in Ukraine, and the premiere took place at the Sundance festival in 2022.
Partnering with the Voices of Children Charitable Foundation, the film sheds light on the importance of giving children a voice and the crucial role of psychologists in helping them navigate the traumas of war. The temporary orphan shelter featured in the film provided a safe haven for these children, full of care, support, and trust. The screening of this documentary aims to draw attention to the plight of children during wartime and the need to give little Ukrainians a chance for a decent and safe life.
The heart-wrenching and poignant documentary presents a powerful message — the voices of children impacted by war must be heard and amplified. After the screening, Safarov and Rozvadovska presented a book containing quotes from the children affected by the war, which they also gifted to the Consulates.
The film has been shortlisted for an Oscar award and will compete for the title of Best Documentary at the Academy Awards on March 12, 2023 in Los Angeles. Our thoughts and wishes are with the team behind “A House Made of Splinters,” and we hope it takes home the coveted award.
