A documentary restoring voice and dignity to refugees: “Another Summer — Stories of Exile from Afghanistan and Ukraine”

Another Summer goes beyond conventional documentary storytelling, capturing both the trauma and resilience of Afghan and Ukrainian refugees in Europe with an unprecedented approach. Directed by anthropologist David Edwards and documentary filmmaker Alžběta Kovandová-Bartoníčková, the 104-minute film offers a powerful view into the lives of those forced to leave their homes due to war.

The uniqueness of Another Summer (2024) lies in its authorship: this is a film by refugees for refugees. In a project that is as much a social experiment as a film, Edwards and Kovandová-Bartoníčková enlisted Afghan and Ukrainian students who themselves fled their countries or are unable to return, and offered them the tools and guidance to document their shared realities. The resulting film is an unfiltered exploration of loss, resilience, and the search for dignity amid displacement.

The project began in 2022, amidst mass displacements caused by the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Edwards and Kovandová-Bartoníčková trained the participants in Geneva before sending them in teams across Europe and Turkey. Over two weeks, they filmed people living on the margins in Istanbul, Leeds, and in five cities in the EU, capturing moments of struggle and tenacity.

Through these stories, Another Summer becomes more than a documentary — it’s a shared exploration of identity, loss, and survival. The filmmakers interview their compatriots affected by the same perils, forging an empathy and connection that traditional storytellers might struggle to achieve. This allows the film to avoid stereotypes and instead offer a multilayered portrayal of life in exile.

Language plays a vital role, with interviews conducted in Ukrainian, Dari, Pashto, and Russian, among others. These multilingual voices weave together a mosaic of shared humanity, emphasising that the experiences of displacement, though varied, resonate universally. The sound design subtly reinforces this, using ambient noises and silences to evoke the emotional weight of dislocation.

The film avoids linear storytelling, allowing its subjects to guide the narrative. Their accounts of past lives, perilous escapes, and attempts to rebuild are presented without embellishment. Heartbreaking moments are balanced with glimpses of hope, capturing the strength that sustains people through unimaginable challenges. 

One particularly moving scene features an elderly couple in a refugee camp in Czechia fighting back the tears when asked what they miss most about Afghanistan. They brace themselves, speaking with gratitude that their son and grandchildren are well and their home is intact. 

“I have no problem,” says the woman, “I just miss them.” 

Sitting next to her, her husband can’t hold back the tears. He grieves for his homeland, the mountains and the soil, and for his people.

“It is also sad that there is no true government of the people,” he concludes distraught. 

In another scene, a Ukrainian mother speaks of leaving everything behind while holding onto hope for her children’s future. Reflecting on her emotional struggle, she says, “In London and before in Germany, I wasn’t myself. My heart hurt. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t do anything”. Over time, she realises the need “to pull herself together,” adding that “many refugees can’t act normally at the start”. 

Another Summer challenges how displaced communities are portrayed in mainstream media. Instead of reducing them to numbers or symbols of pity, it restores their dignity and individuality. The film resists offering a tidy message or resolution, instead inviting viewers to engage with the intricate and often contradictory realities of exile and survival. 

Ultimately, Another Summer is both a work of art and an act of resistance. It demands that we see displaced individuals as people, not statistics. Through the lens of young filmmakers who share the same scars, it becomes a poignant tribute to those navigating life after displacement.

Special thanks to Liza Zolotarova and one of the students who collaborated on the documentary for sharing materials and thoughts about Another Summer.