I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming review – brilliant bulletin from Ukrainian frontline dives deep into culture war

It’s a bulletin from the frontline of Russia’s war on Ukraine, and from the culture war too. There is a bold and brilliant premise that may at first look artificially satirical but is actually inspired. When Russia begins its attack, the crisis is very specific for a scared young Ukrainian couple, recently engaged: Olya (Tania Myronyshena) and Oleh (Markus Bright). Oleh’s plan is to get out of Ukraine and live with Olya in the safety of Germany and the EU. Someone shrilly tells her to speak Ukrainian, and it causes a general brawl in which Oleh sustains a black eye.