DISABILITY IS A CHALLENGE, NOT A VERDICT

Vertical Frontline:

"For a decade, my lens has been fixed on the defenders of Ukraine.  But with Second Wind, I wanted to move the gaze from the horizontal trenches to the verticality of Kilimanjaro.

In filmmaking, as in war, we often focus on the moment of impact. I am interested in what happens after. This film is my attempt to capture the 'post-traumatic growth'—the literal and metaphorical ascent of five individuals who refuse to be defined by what they have lost.

My cinematic approach was not to observe them as 'subjects' but to climb with them. The camera is a witness to the friction between the prosthetic limb and the rock, doubts and hope. This is a story of rebirth and I want the audiences to vicariously experience the journey with our heroes.”

Masha Kondakova, Director, Paris

"Whoever saves a single life, it is as if he had saved the whole world." 

In 2025, I paused a 40-year career to produce this film, bridging my passion for mountaineering with a deep commitment to Ukraine. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a film is worth millions. It showcases the enduring strength of the Ukrainian spirit—the fundamental reason why Russian aggression will ultimately fail. Above all, my goal is to inspire individuals with disabilities, and all those facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, to never yield, no matter how daunting the road ahead."

Gena Gazin, Producer, New York, Kyiv