The Architects of Hope

Hope is a volatile currency in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In desperate short supply at times, and overflowing at others; Ukrainians never lose sight of the hope that the war will conclude with Russia’s defeat and retreat from their borders. That is of course uncertain. But one thing is inevitable: the war will end eventually. And when it does, people will need to rebuild. The Architects of Hope tells the story of those who will be there to bring Ukraine’s decimated cities back to life.

The documentary follows 5 architects before and during the war, as they design new complexes in Kyiv and beyond and are forced to rethink their designs after the February 2022 invasion that turns their lives upside down. Those in the east are forced to relocate, as others in Putin’s top target of Kyiv see their ideas of community-first apartment complexes thrown into chaos. As the war drags on, it becomes clear that redesigning and rebuilding is going to be essential for Ukraine’s future – and dreams and passions turn into divine callings.

The invasion of Ukraine of course looms large over The Architects of Hope – but this is not a war movie. The process of architecture, design and city planning are the film’s focus – the war becoming a motivating force for the subjects to put more time and heart into their projects. It is a fascinating insight into life in Ukraine during the war, and a reminder that people still must live their lives and work towards causes that are not always central to the war effort. In fact much of the film’s tension comes from the fact that so many of the hours of work the architects are putting in are dependant entirely on the war’s outcome – ‘hope’ being an essential ingredient.

What is undeniably interesting is not however always the most entertaining. There are dry spells across the 70-minute running time, where filmmaker Paul Thomas allows the architects to explain their concepts and plans in-depth. Enthusiasts may find this more engaging, but others will become emotionally disengaged in these moments, which are akin to corporate promotional videos at points. It is when one reminds themselves of the unbelievably dangerous circumstances in which these people live when the appreciation for their work returns, but this reminder only comes sporadically from the film itself.

When it does, the impressive nature of the production comes back to the fore. Harrowing footage of nighttime curfews where drones are shot down from the sky are haunting, and a late scene in which students work together to operate a giant puppet is an emotional representation of all the work the film’s subjects, as well as those across the besieged nation have put in to get the country back on its feet. The decision of one of the architects – Anton Oliynyk – to join the military after the events of the film is a story in of itself, yet this is not made into a central driver of the plot like many documentarians would opt for.

Real-life rarely follows a consistent narrative, and while The Architects of Hope snapshot nature may sacrifice entertainment in moments, it makes up for it in authenticity and insight into an essential, but barely-known world. Life in Ukraine may never be quite the same after the war, but this film stands as a thought-provoking look at those who hope for a country in which life and community can thrive.