Porto-Franco City

This film was created with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Fund and highlights the heroism of the medical staff at the National Children's Specialized Hospital "Oхmatdyt" during the war. In March 2022, director Svitlana Rudyuk began filming "Not Like Before" in the hospital, where she was struck by the courage of the doctors who save lives every day. The film crew spent weeks in the hospital, experiencing bombings alongside the medical staff and patients.

In July 2024, the hospital drew global attention again after a Russian missile struck its building. This tragic event underscored the resilience of Ukrainian doctors. Despite injuries and shock, they continued to provide aid to children and adults, helping them from the debris.

In 2025, the film team returned to Oхmatdyt to learn how the doctors recovered from the 2024 attack and what was happening with the heroes now.

The film centers around two heroes: Valeriy Bovkun, a microsurgeon, and Aliona Bezlehnka, a physical therapist. Valeriy states, "The hardest part for me is seeing injured children, whose childhood has been shattered. My mission is to help these children return to a normal life." Aliona adds, "In the first days of the invasion, it was hard to grasp the depth of injustice, especially regarding the children with amputations."

More than 1000 minutes of footage were shot, from which a medium-length film titled "Not Like Before" (46 minutes) was created.

This film is a tribute to the doctors who save lives daily. Director Svitlana Rudyuk emphasized, "It was important for us to be part of their process, supporting them and sharing this experience."

We live in constant uncertainty, but we continue to fight and do our work, so that in the future, we can live with dignity, even if not as we did before.

The film's premiere will take place on the Megogo platform until September 21, after which it will be available at festivals.