Men on the streets get chased by stares. Someone’s walking a chihuahua, someone’s out jogging, but everyone’s uneasy glances are fixed at Petro and Andriy — recruitment officers inspecting military documents, holiday or not. When the officers encounter the freelance IT guy, Sashko, the young man has two requests before he’s taken away: that they stop by the store so he can buy food for his cat, and that he is allowed to bless his Easter bread.

War has become a disturbingly normal part of daily routine. Ukrainian director Zaseyev draws the viewer into a vignette-like scene where new army recruits are being drafted, offering a deeply human – even humorous – take on the situation in the spirit of a buddy film. Two mouthy colleagues and a young man in a cat T-shirt remind us not only of life at the front, Ukrainian culture and traditions, but also of all the lives you can’t take away with you in a backpack when you leave. Premiering at the RIGA IFF, this elegantly made short film captivates with its wit and genre fluidity.

As Qiu Yang, consultant of the RIGA IFF short film selection committee, puts it: “The film offers a different and difficult perspective that we don’t usually get to see. Nicely shot and simple, but effective and with an intention.”