Codenamed Cuba and Alaska, two field medics serving on the frontlines of the Ukrainian conflict regard the absurdity of war with a combination of grit, humour and hope. Mostly comprising footage from phones and GoPro cameras attached to their helmets and chests, the film offers rare access to the medics’ daily lives, their reliance on each other a testament to the camaraderie required to survive in this world. But when one of them is injured and they are separated, the realisation of how despairing the conflict can become gradually sinks in. A raw and powerful film, Cuba & Alaska is an essential reminder of the importance of human connection, especially at a time when hope in the direst of circumstances feels increasingly elusive.