03.07.2025 • 46 Min.

Alisa Kovalenko is an award-winning Ukrainian documentary filmmaker and parent who joined a volunteer battalion in 2022 after Russia’s full-scale invasion. She documented her combat experience on camera and later turned the frontline footage into the film "My Dear Théo", offering an intimate view of life in war through the eyes of a soldier separated from her child. In this episode, Alisa Kovalenko shared with the host Luzia Tschirky many insights: Choosing to Fight: The story behind her decision to enlist in the army after the invasion, fulfilling a personal promise. Parenthood in War: The conflicting feelings of guilt and the inner strength she balances as a parent serving on the frontlines. Editing, Grief, and Memory: How piecing the film together became a process of mourning fallen comrades and preserving their memory Love and Light as Resistance: How love and hope fuel Alisa’s resilience, especially her love for her young son and why holding onto light amid darkness is crucial to sustaining the resistance. Resources Connect with Alisa Kovalenko Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisa.kovalenko.24 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisafrom/ Trailer of her documentary «My Dear Théo»:https://vimeo.com/1061232681 Connect with Luzia Tschirky Instagram: https://instagram.com/luziatschirky LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luziatschirky/ Website: https://www.luziatschirky.ch/ Book: https://echtzeit.ch/buch/live-aus-der-ukraine