“We want to live here”, interview with director Alexandrina Turcan

“We want to live here”, Moldavian actress Alexandrina Turcan’s directorial debut, has been presented at Alice nella Città in Rome. The documentary short film, produced by Sean Penn, is a subtle glimpse in the every day life of kids in Borodyanka, Ukraine. Turcan reveals that she had one simple goal with her film: to witness the impact of war with her own eyes. She knew it wasn’t the destroyed buildings or the constant bombings that would terrify her, but the people. While walking through the deserted playgrounds of the city, she found a group of boys. Earning their trust, which took gentleness, patience, and time, she got to portray them in her film. The stories of Volodymir, Vitalyi, and Matviy are windows into the hearts and minds of Ukraine’s youngest survivors. Alexandrina Turcan talks about the strength of the Ukrainian spirit that she found and delved into with the film. Sean Penn got on board as a producer after watching her work and that’s how Turcan’s career as director begun.