The Doctor Leaves Last

It’s April 2014 on Independence Square in Kiev, and Tanya, a volunteer doctor, has been spending her days at the emergency hospital ever since the unrest began. Protesters and volunteers coming there for medical attention also take time for a chat. Tanya seems outwardly calm and collected, but as a result of the stress and exhaustion her health has seriously deteriorated. After a stay in the hospital, she visits her old mother in a small village a hundred miles from Kiev. Tanya’s mother is proud of her: “She’s a revolutionary, always has been.” From the radio come reports that Russia is raising the price of gas for Ukraine. Back on the square, Tanya starts to fear a Russian invasion once news of the occupation of Donetsk reaches the capital, but she still wants to join the volunteers leaving for the front. Following Tanya’s daily routine, we get to know the square and its surrounding area, and feel the tension permeating Kiev. At the end, in an emotional discussion with colleagues, Tanya declares her loyalty to the Ukrainian struggle for freedom. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)