In “The Soul Bird’s Quest,” Volodymyr Smotrytel introduces us to a contemporary character who embarks on a solitary journey to unravel the life and creative journey of Vasyl Stus. Central to his investigation is the pivotal question: What event in Vasyl Stus’s life triggered his downfall? And he discovers the answer – the year 1965, the Kyiv cinema “Ukraine,” and the premiere of Sergiy Parajanov’s film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors,” where Stus openly criticized political repression in Ukraine.

Utilizing a blend of documentary footage, poetry, prose, and personal reflections, the contemporary character paints a vivid portrait of a free-spirited bird-like individual who defied the shackles of the communist totalitarian regime.