This is the intimate, first-hand account of Ukrainian filmmaker Alisa Kovalenko's experiences as a volunteer soldier defending her homeland during Russia's large-scale invasion in 2022. Separated from her young son, who is now in France with his father's family, Kovalenko stays behind to fight for her beleaguered country. She records her daily life in the trenches — the waiting, the boredom, the soundscape of war and the frontline routine — for her son, Theo, and for posterity.

My Dear Theo captures both the physical shapes of destruction and the intimate spaces of grief, determination and love. Kovalenko’s camera reveals not only danger and fear, but also the quiet bonds among the diverse community of soldiers, who are united by their yearning for their far-away families and their resolve to protect their country. A deeply personal chronicle of sacrifice, resistance and hope for future generations.