The film co-produced by Ukraine’s Voka Films and Norway’s Folk Film, was just granted €110,000 from the Council of Europe’s Eurimages.

Other backers include the Swedish Film Institute, Zefyr Media Fund, Fritt Ord in Norway, IDFA Bertha Fund, B2BDOC, IMS, Viewfinder and the Nipkow Programme.

Initially conceived by Belarusian journalist/filmmaker Hanna Badziaka and Ukraine-Belarusian filmmaker/producer Alexander Mihalkovich as an investigation into the autocratic and institutionalised violence in the Belarus military ranks, the film has had to widen its narrative, due to the political events in Belarus and war in Ukraine.

The core of the film, as explained by Sisyfos Film Productions’ founder Mario Adamson, is the directors’ critical look at the embedded system of violence in the Belarus military forces, ranging from perverse initiation rituals for new recruits, humiliation, torture and even rape. The violence rooted in the traditions of the Soviet Army, was originally implemented by recruited ex-convicts who brought criminal rule into the military.

The film will look at the issue from three perspectives: the mothers, the soldiers - both victims and perpetrators of the violence, as well as the activists, including Mihalkovich himself, a former Belarus army recruit. The documentary will question the responsibility of societies that tolerate such violence and glorify the military experience.

Adamson said the filmmakers and some of the protagonists had to flee Belarus after the 2020 presidential election and stayed in Ukraine, until the Russian attack again forced them out of the country.

The editing started by Ukrainian Olha Zhurba (behind the CPH:DOX competition entry Outside co-produced by Denmark’s Final Cut For Real) will now be completed by Denmark’s Denniz Göl Bertelsen, credited for the Oscar-nominated The Cave, Kandis for Life, and Annette K. Olesen’s upcoming fiction film A Matter of Trust. “It was necessary to attach a seasoned editor with an objective view on the material,” notes Adamson, who says the conflict in Ukraine is seriously affecting the team of Motherland.

The Swedish producer is hoping to lock the film this fall or latest early 2023.