ARTEM RYZHYKOV, JUAN CAMILO CRUZ | UKRAINE, UNITED STATES, UNITED KINGDOM | 2025 | 96 MIN | RUSSIAN, UKRAINIAN, ENGLISH
In times of war or civil unrest, many feel compelled to do what they can to help uphold the invisible ties and beliefs that unite one’s community. For Ukrainian cinematographer Artem Ryzhykov, his moment came after Russian forces began an escalated invasion of his country in 2022. After spending weeks helping his family and wife Irina get out of the country, Artem joined the Kyiv territorial defense battalion with no training or experience. It is there he began to document the civilian battalion and the camaraderie among his compatriots. Artem receives the nickname “Canon” due to his proclivity to have his camera slung on one shoulder and a rifle on the other. Through his eye-opening, first-person footage filled with hope, tragedy, and even a healthy dose of levity in the mundane periods of silence between bombings, Artem constructs a wonderful document of the tenacity of the human spirit. Yet even his once-unwavering optimism begins to falter as the war rages on with no end in sight. The remarkable A Simple Soldier is a rare documentary that showcases the artistry of an award-winning filmmaker through the muddy lens of life during wartime.
Part of the Philadelphia Film Festival's PFF ON US Community Screenings series.
Compelling stories offering unparalleled perspectives into communities around the world, hand-picked for our communities here at home. Films in the Community Screenings section are free to attend, thanks to the PFS on Us ticketing program.
Screenings are FREE, and open to the public. Reserve now, tickets are limited.
Ticket holders must arrive at the theater at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.
Seating after the start time is not guaranteed. All sales are final.
For more information on PFF34 policies and venue information - Click HERE
To return back to the PFF34 film schedule - Click HERE