In the Rearview is an authentic, intimate observation of war as it unfolds, following multiple generations of Ukrainian civilians as they abruptly abandon their homes and rely on the help of director Maciek Hamela's volunteer aid van to escape the life-threatening conflict. As he steers through minefields to leave Ukraine and tries to get through numerous military checkpoints, Hamela offers us a seat in his car, guiding the documentary from behind the wheel and behind the camera, crisscrossing the roads of Ukraine to transport uprooted refugees safely to Poland.
"In the Rearview approaches the story without any post-factum commentary or layer of analysis, with its protagonists being people who have decided to flee at the very moment. The intimate space of the van establishes room for frank conversations between driver and passengers about life, dreams, anxieties, plans and expectations. The car interior becomes a confessional for deeply emotional stories of war experience, told often for the very first time." (Maciek Hamela)