An examination of the atrocities faced by Ukraine who were caught between the Russian and German expansions of World War II.  Exploring the real life terrors of the Holodomor famines, Soviet and Fascist occupations and the hells of war, There Are No Tears In The Snow examines what it means to survive and the moral struggle to do so.

SYNOPSIS:

Sasha is a tank corp driver, the best in the company and has been with her tank “Fist of Red Mother” since the assembly line. Accompanied by tank commander Dmitri, patriot Pyotr and faint of heart Ilyich they make up the crew of Red Mother. On the front line advance in the year of 1943, the Russian forces have just re-taken Kiev; Ukraine’s capital. Encouraged by victory the Red Army continues its advance into the countryside for their ‘liberation.’ But the German’s will not leave without a fight.

In the night Sasha’s camp is attacked. The Germans have snuck up and sabotaged several vehicles, now the Komkorp leader is inspired for a hasty night attack on the nearby position. While Sasha warns Dmitri against the armor column moving at night, Dmitri informs that orders are orders and otherwise death. Sure enough, the advance follows through only to prove fatal. Red Mother is taken out in a firefight and abandoned by the company.

Sasha, Pyotr and Ilyich awake, lucky to be alive. Commander Dmitri, however, is dying. Tensions rise over leadership and whether he will survive the night. Sasha insists they need to fix the tank, Ilyich plots abandonment and Pytor reminds them of their duties to the state. They must go onward, rejoin the fight. And Dmitri must be buried. Sasha manages to recover mobility and leadership of the tank but it will be short-lived without proper resources. Together the crew plots a short course through a pass in the mountain to link up with their company.

But from the dark woods watches a set of eyes who have different plans for the tank crew. The next day Red Mother is halted at the pass by a group of guerrilla fighters known as Sovereigns and their charismatic leader Mikael. He informs them that he will not permit them to pass until they have met with him for his blessing. In fact he could even help repair their tank but out here, there are no flags or banners. Out here it is his land and he will decide whose blood is spilled on it.

As the Soviet crew is introduced to the Sovereigns, Mikaels tirades against the occupying forces become poignant. The Soviets are welcome, but they are not liked. Mikaels fighters and him fight for a free and independent Ukraine. But they are also hungry like so many throughout Ukraine. Informing the Soviet crew of their struggles against the Terror Famines under the Soviet rule, tensions begin to rise when Pyotr goes missing and vast meaty feasts are ever present despite a lack of cattle in the region.