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DENIS PETRINA
RESEARCHER
“I am a PhD candidate in philosophy at the Lithuanian Culture Research Institute. My academic interests include the body, subjectivity, as well as social and political equality. I truly believe the issue of AIDS in a marginal European town, which Andrei addresses in his movie, is crucially important. While in Western Europe people with AIDS have overcome social exclusion and are equal members of the society, it is painful to admit that in Eastern Europe (and my homeland is no exception) these individuals are still neglected, ignored and stigmatized. Andrei’s movie is not only a means to establish an international dialogue and draw global attention to this atrocious fact, but is also an attempt to give a voice to those who have too long been deprived of it.”
NASTYA SHIRALIYEVA
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
“I’m a journalist and copywriter, writing since I was 16. I come from the same town as Andrei, where we first met. My main focus is social issues, medicine and healthcare. Recently, I decided to give graphic design a try. I’m delighted to be a part of this socially-important project, and I hope this story will be heard by as many people as possible.”
FLORIAN LETELLIER
TECHNICAL MANAGER
“I’m a software developer. I was raised in northern France where social instability is high. I realized that Andrei and I share similarities in our backgrounds, and this is why I wanted to be part of this project. Life can be tough anywhere in the world, but when you see this small town, you start thinking that some places on Earth still have a long way to go… I hope that this film will make these problems more visible and effect changes in the short term.”
THOMAS AURIEL
PHOTO
“I’m an engineer and photographer. I realized this topic was not properly covered, and was in fact unknown to the general public. It shows how many years after discovering HIV, the virus still causes an array of issues, with people ending up with late-stage AIDS in some part of the world, just a few hours away from other European capitals. It’s totally unimaginable in today’s Western world. These stories have to be documented.”
AIDS ZONE: hospital tour
I knew it will be hard for me to come here back, but at the same time it was a relief. In 2017 my mother was taken to this hospital, where she was told about the last stage of HIV – AIDS. Giving a few months term to live, there was no hope.
AIDS ZONE: second day
Second day was one of the most difficult one. We had to film an interview with my mother and one of the location was this local cemetery. Walking through the rows, she was naming her friends every single minute. Since I was recording her sound with a wireless mic, I heard everything she was saying. That was one of the hardest moments for me as well, as at this cemetery there is a grave of my uncle and my friend’s mother. Grave after grave, you can see the birthdates… 1970, 1978, 1982 and so on… AIDS was the main reason for many young people buried here.
The cemetery was opened in 1999 and it’s already shot down for no space… For a town of less than 80 000, there is a 4th cemetery recently opened.
AIDS ZONE: behind the scenes
I started my trip back in January. I met my cameraman Andrei and few days after he came to Svietlahorsk. He said: “I couldn’t imagine that the difference from the Belarus’ capital of Minsk will be that huge”. He said, the town stuck in the past.
This is how “malosemeika”, or one-bedroom apartment building looks like. It was recently repainted and it looks way more attractive than before…
My “tezka”, or namesake Andrei is getting ready for another filming day. It’s cold outside.
