Heimweh - Kindheit zwischen den Fronten

A very touching film about children in a shelter. You get to follow some children during they stay, wich can be no more than 9 months.

I liked the film very much and was touched by it. It would have been the same even in different times, but now when Russia has attacked Ukraine 10 days ago and so many suffer badly. Those children don't have an easy life and now also the war. Do they have food, water and heating? Are they still alive? Those thoughts came to me when watching. It's such a cruel war. All wars are cruel, of course.

Thank you for this wonderful portrait of the children!

I had to push myself to keep watching A House Made of Splinters, not because it was bad - it wasn't. It was because it was so heart breaking. Regardless of this being set in a Ukraine children's home, I think this documentary is universal as there are children going through this all over the world. Drug addict, alcoholic and abusive parents who don't give a damn about their children is something that is unfortunately wide spread across the world, it happens even in your own suburb probably.

It was hard to watch these beautiful children going through such sadness. I would hate to know what they are thinking in their delicate minds, how unloved they were feeling, how abandoned they were.

The staff of the home appear to do their best for them, but their hands are tied. They can't control useless parents.

I think this documentary is a must watch for any parent.

I hope that all these children featured are safe and having better lives.

Your parents prefer the bottle over you, like to drink themselves to death while they eschew, as you're a child you are then taken, left feeling totally forsaken, at a loss to know, what you are meant to do. At least the people at the house really do care, and all the other kids with which you have to share, but if those parents don't recover, no one comes along to foster, the orphanage, is where you'll find despair.

It's a heart-breaking film that shows us the journey of several children whose parents addiction has landed their offspring in a world they never would have expected, although far preferable to what must have been hell on earth before. Located in eastern Ukraine, the story is one that can be told the world over, sadly.

This is quite a touching documentary that follows the lives of some young children who are not orphaned in the traditional sense, but who are subject to ongoing legal proceedings relating to their parents and guardians. For many of these boisterous and confused youngsters, this large hostel is the safest place for them to be - but with many very young and unsettled, the task for the facility's administrators is very much eggshell treading territory. It's set in Ukraine - before Russia invaded, but it could actually quite readily relocate to many places around the world where the traditional family units have long stopped functioning effectively - either as a result of neglect, or tragedy, or just parents who cannot cope with children with special requirements or behavioural difficulties. This institution is not a permanent solution, and as we are introduced to the kids we appreciate that their futures are all pretty fluid. Another orphanage? Adoption? Can siblings stay together? "I just want to go home" is a phrase oft said by boys and girls alike as they struggle to navigate this unwelcome uncertainty. The downside of productions like this, though, is keeping the camera in it's proper (discrete) place. Here, that doesn't really work and frequently the actions and reactions look just a bit too staged. How are you expected to get a genuine reaction from an eight year old when there's a camera crew adjacent? There are scenes of intimacy at which we simply do not belong, let alone need a front row seat for. The skill from the director requires us to see enough, but not everything - and to know when to call an halt to the intrusion of our observations. That skill isn't so evident here. There are some fairly characterful children though, and their professional carers really epitomise just how difficult it is to house and rehouse these lively and rudderless individuals when there is constant pressure on funds, space, time and on themselves. It's certainly worth a watch, but it could have benefitted more from some editorial subtlety and a more judicious sense of what we ought to have seen.

A House Made of Splinters is a documentary by Simon Lereng Wilmont, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker who spent a year filming four children living in a shelter for abused and neglected kids in Ukraine. The film shows their daily struggles, hopes and fears as they face the threat of being sent to a state orphanage or being caught up in the ongoing war.

The film is not a conventional documentary that provides facts and context. Instead, it focuses on the intimate and personal stories of the children, who range from 6 to 14 years old. They are Marharyta, a shy girl who loves animals; Anjelika, a rebellious teenager who dreams of becoming a singer; Olga, a cheerful girl who suffers from epilepsy; and Sasha, a boy who has been traumatized by his abusive father.

The film does not shy away from showing the harsh realities of their lives, such as poverty, violence, addiction and corruption. It also captures their moments of joy, friendship and resilience. The film is shot with a handheld camera that follows them closely, creating a sense of intimacy and empathy. The film also uses natural sound and music to create a contrast between the bleakness of their situation and their inner world.

A House Made of Splinters is a powerful and poignant documentary that exposes the plight of millions of children in Ukraine and beyond. It is also a testament to their courage and humanity. It is one of the best documentaries of the year and deserves to be seen by everyone.