Mandrake

The story follows Olga, whose husband has gone missing due to military events in East Ukraine. In her desperation to find him, she turns to witches who reveal that her husband has died. Consumed by grief, Olga is tempted by the witches' offer to drink an infusion of mandrake to forget her sorrow, but the ensuing ritual intertwines the realms of the living and the dead.

"Mandrake" combines horror elements with a poignant narrative about emotional pain and the lengths one may go to escape it. The film features a runtime of 27 minutes, allowing for a concise yet impactful exploration of its themes. With a unique premise grounded in supernatural folklore, it offers a distinct voice in the horror genre from the perspective of Ukrainian cinema.