29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (07.11-23.11.2025)
Love, war, and a 1986 Volkswagen – a film where filmmaking itself becomes a language of love.
In the quiet of their home, filmmaker Maryna Nikolcheva documents her husband Max as he drifts through a midlife crisis. Once celebrated for his art, Max now edits commercials he can’t stand, finding meaning only in the slow, obsessive restoration of a battered old car. Through the lens of Maryna’s camera, we witness the small victories, frustrations, and tender moments that make up their shared life.
When Russia invades Ukraine, the couple is torn apart, connected only through video calls. Amid missile strikes, blackouts, and uncertainty, they confront the fragility of life and the enduring pull of their shared craft. Despite the backdrop of war, Max begins to find happiness again – but, like safety itself, it remains precarious and fleeting.
Funny, intimate, and profoundly moving, “One Day I Wish to See You Happy” is a meditation on marriage, creativity, and resilience – a portrait of a couple’s love and a testament to the healing power of filmmaking.
Mike Arnott
In cinema 11/16/2025
One Day I Wish to See You Happy
Одного дня я хочу побачити тебе щасливим
-
Genre
Documentary, War
Director
Maryna Nikolcheva
Run time
1h 22min
Cast
Maryna Nikolcheva, Maksym Vasyanovych
Genre
Documentary, War
Director
Maryna Nikolcheva
Run time
1h 22min
Cast
Maryna Nikolcheva, Maksym Vasyanovych
29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (07.11-23.11.2025)
Love, war, and a 1986 Volkswagen – a film where filmmaking itself becomes a language of love.
In the quiet of their home, filmmaker Maryna Nikolcheva documents her husband Max as he drifts through a midlife crisis. Once celebrated for his art, Max now edits commercials he can’t stand, finding meaning only in the slow, obsessive restoration of a battered old car. Through the lens of Maryna’s camera, we witness the small victories, frustrations, and tender moments that make up their shared life.
When Russia invades Ukraine, the couple is torn apart, connected only through video calls. Amid missile strikes, blackouts, and uncertainty, they confront the fragility of life and the enduring pull of their shared craft. Despite the backdrop of war, Max begins to find happiness again – but, like safety itself, it remains precarious and fleeting.
Funny, intimate, and profoundly moving, “One Day I Wish to See You Happy” is a meditation on marriage, creativity, and resilience – a portrait of a couple’s love and a testament to the healing power of filmmaking.
Mike Arnott
Love, war, and a 1986 Volkswagen – a film where filmmaking itself becomes a language of love.
In the quiet of their home, filmmaker Maryna Nikolcheva documents her husband Max as he drifts through a midlife crisis. Once celebrated for his art, Max now edits commercials he can’t stand, finding meaning only in the slow, obsessive restoration of a battered old car. Through the lens of Maryna’s camera, we witness the small victories, frustrations, and tender moments that make up their shared life.
When Russia invades Ukraine, the couple is torn apart, connected only through video calls. Amid missile strikes, blackouts, and uncertainty, they confront the fragility of life and the enduring pull of their shared craft. Despite the backdrop of war, Max begins to find happiness again – but, like safety itself, it remains precarious and fleeting.
Funny, intimate, and profoundly moving, “One Day I Wish to See You Happy” is a meditation on marriage, creativity, and resilience – a portrait of a couple’s love and a testament to the healing power of filmmaking.
Mike Arnott
Info
Rating
-
Production year
2025
Global distributor
Moon Man
Local distributor
Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival MTÜ
In cinema
11/16/2025