Amidst rubble bathed in natural light, shadows of still-intact apartments, and streets where life must go on, Ukrainian filmmaker Eva Neymann turns her camera on the residents of Odessa. Each shot is carefully crafted like a painting, quietly coming to life to give everyone the time and space they need to delve into their memories, confide their dreams and fears, or simply exist in front of the camera. Through a poetic pilgrimage, When the Lightning Flashes Over the Sea reveals a city and a daily life marked by contrasts, where routine and chaos, carefreeness and resignation, and regrets and aspirations intertwine and echo each other while honouring the resilience of those who are still there. (MAS)

Canadian Premiere

When Lightning Flashes Over the Sea