Sergiich and Pashka are the only inhabitants of a bleak mining village in the grey zone of the Donbas region. Friends from childhood, they live a quiet life though one is Ukrainian and the other Russian. There are bombings heard outside, windows are shattered and the electricity is cut off. Occasionally a soldier pays a visit to check (or perhaps spy) on their well-being. Despite the looming war, Sergiich ferments honey from beehives and Pashka comes knocking at Sergiich’s door every day for a cup of tea. What is the big fuss when the two countries have been at odds for 300 years? Adapted from Andrey Kurkov’s eponymous novel, Grey Bees clearly stands out among the films about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cleverly composed by Dmytro Moiseiev and painstakingly shot by Vadym Ilkov, this is a heartfelt testimony of the need of human connection in the direst circumstances. (Karen PARK)