Up in the Air

Sasha is a quiet nine-year-old boy who excels at aerial acrobatics. In Kharkiv, Ukraine, he trains at a circus under the strict Svitlana, who lets no mistake pass without comment. She sees talent in him and pushes him to improve his concentration. After Russia’s full-scale invasion, Svitlana flees to Budapest with her young students. There they train for an important international competition.

Sasha enjoys being away from the war and resumes his training. Crackly phone calls are his only connection with his family. Although training is difficult, he shines during the competition and receives a standing ovation. But during a visit to his parents, he confides in his father that he finds his teacher’s strict methods hard to bear: in his eyes she has changed. He finally puts into words what had previously only been hinted at. His fledgling career takes a new turn.

The film offers an intimate portrait of a group of people going about their daily lives while the war continues in the background. Patient, observational camerawork brings us close to the protagonists and gives depth to their contrasting personalities.