There's a matter-of-factness to Paul Thomas's The Architects of Hope: The First Steps in Rebuilding Ukraine that I found incredibly effective, a journey away from the frontlines and toward an exploration of the very human aspects of what it means to live during a time of conflict. 

Filmed from mid-2022 to late 2024, The Architects of Hope quickly became a popular presence on the international festival circuit with 71 official selections and 17 awards including the Beloit Film Festival's acclaimed "Power of Film" Award. For those who remember Thomas from AMERICAN: The Bill Hicks Story, The Architects of Hope may seem like a weird little detour. However, Thomas first trained as an architect and he brings that sensibility to his primary focus on five central figures, architects, driven both individually and communally toward a focus on planning and rebuilding even as the war itself has continued. 

This is something I pondered throughout the film's 75-minute running time - the idea that even while we're in the midst of trauma we often find ourselves planning a post-trauma life. The creative spirit is not easily squelched and that is similarly true for those creatives whose artistry manifests in very functional ways. While Thomas doesn't focus his lens on destruction here, destruction is in view and undeniable. Yet the film, somehow, finds a quiet hopefulness in the presence of humanity and through Thomas's patient, non-intrusive lens and through his subjects' willingness to speak their truths and lean into their commitments. 

We have seen many documentaries about this war, appropriately so, and yet seldom have we seen such a quiet documentary focused on humanity and the rebuilding of life where destruction has occurred. Destruction is, perhaps, impermanent while life is ever-present even when many lives have been lost. 

Filmed in English, The Architects of Hope is a thoughtful and rather beautiful film currently screening on the Kinema Platform. 

Written by Richard Propes
The Independent Critic