Before Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, it was the leading wine-producing region in Ukraine, specializing in semi-sweet and dessert wines. However, the loss of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in the east spurred a growth in Western-style dry wines, particularly in Transcarpathia and the southern regions of Odesa and Kherson.

In the Fall of 2021, the director and crew of a film project began exploring these regions to gain further understanding. However, the full-scale invasion by Russia redirected the focus of the film, now titled “Wounded Land”. The filmmakers shifted their attention to the vintners, farmers, and entrepreneurs who were optimistic after the global pandemic, but now must navigate the impacts of war on their lives and businesses. The central theme of the 54:50-minute documentary is wine production during wartime, while the secondary theme is victory, as all the main characters touch upon throughout the film. This event is co-sponsored by the Fletcher School at Tufts University and the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. Click here to register.