Ron Schildknecht - Mother, Protect Us

In the midst of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an artist seeks solace in her work and her faith as she struggles to keep both her mother in Kharkiv safe and her daughter in Chicago at peace.

Digital video, 7 minutes, color

English, Ukrainian

FILM REVIEW BY ALISA PASKO
March 29, 2026

Yesterday, Chicago held its breath. The Chicago Film Frenzy Festival at the FACETS cinema was not just a screening, but a true moment of truth. Our film “Mother Protect Us” finally met its audience, and it was incredibly powerful, moving many to tears.

This film is a raw nerve of today's Ukraine. It conveys the situation so delicately and poignantly that every frame resonates with pain and hope. The plot centers on the dramatic breakdown of a Ukrainian family split by war between Ukraine and the USA.

The film tells of the most painful thing: a mother who loves her land above all else and refuses to leave Ukraine. She does not want to leave her native home, her native graves, her native air, even when the enemy is very close. She stays to guard the roots. Meanwhile, her daughter, who has found safety across the ocean, is driven mad with worry for her. This chasm between safety and loyalty, between love and fear, is the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians today. The film shows how war passes through every heart, destroying plans but strengthening the spirit.

I want to share my greatest admiration for Kateryna Tkachenko Kateryna Tkachenko . We all know Kateryna as a gifted artist whose paintings are filled with profound meaning. But in this film, I discovered her as a brilliant dramatic actress. The delicate and psychological way she portrayed the mother, struggling to protect her family amidst the war, was hauntingly beautiful. Kateryna, that was pure art! ❤️

It was especially moving to see young Yeva Wild (stepdaughter of Yurko Soroka) on the screen, who brilliantly portrayed the lead character's daughter. Her mother, Diana Wild @Diana Wild, is a prominent figure in our community, and it's wonderful to see such talent passed down to the next generation.

A huge thank you to our director, Ron Schildknecht Ron Schildknecht . Ron is a man with a huge heart who didn't just direct a movie; he lived this tragedy alongside us. Thank you, Ron, for your professionalism and for making sure Ukraine's voice is heard in the heart of America.

Thanks to all the actors and the crew for this journey. We told a story the world needs to know! 💙💛

KATERYNA TKACHENKO as DARIYA

Mother, Protect Us features Kateryna Tkachenko in the lead role of Dariya.

Kateryna studied at the Academy of Design and Art in Kharkiv (Ukraine), as well as at two theatre studios: Black square (Cherniy Kvadrat) and Habitat ( Seredovyshe Buttya), Ukraine. She was the art director for Perekotypole (Tumbleweed), a movie directed by Ivan Sergienko.

Kateryna helped her parents escape Ukraine after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war and still has other family members and close friends remaining in Kharkiv.

Kateryna was part of the creative team serving as script consultant as well as the key translator.

Kateryna Tkachenko

YEVA WILD as MARINA

Born in the Luhansk region in Eastern Ukraine, Yeva loves acting, filmmaking, reading, and playing violin. In 2014, Yeva and her family fled to Western Ukraine, then to the United States due to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Here she studies acting and organizes Ukrainian protests in Chicago.

Yeva studies Film and Theatre studies at Columbia University in New York. Yeva's grandparents are still in the Eastern part of Ukraine living under occupation.

Yeva Wild

WRITTEN and DIRECTED by RON SCHILDKNECHT

Ron Schildknecht is an independent filmmaker, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor working in Louisville, Kentucky and Chicago, Illinois. Working in both dramatic and documentary form, his work, including The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster, My Porcelain Past, Borderlines, and Fragments of a German American Mind, often explores local history and culture. These films and others - Heavens Above and Muggs & Toast - have received awards at film festivals across the country. The Legend of the Pope Lick Monster continues to be a cult classic.

Ron Schildknecht

Director's Statement

I began this project because I wanted to explore the effects of the war on Ukrainian citizens living in America, particularly those with close family members still living in Ukraine. This film is a snapshot of three generations of women living through a time of war. One is surrounded by the devastation and destruction from the Russian invastion but yet refuses to leave for safer parts of the world. Another is her granddaughter living in Chicago who is growing increasingly radicalized and wanting to take matters into her own hands despite the consequences. And caught in the middle is the daughter / mother maintaining the balance. The film also celebrates the power of art as a tool for protest, resistance and solidarity.

Screenings

2025 Audience Award, Ukrainian Film Festival in America, Chicago

2026 Official Selection, Chicago Film Frenzy, Chicago

CREDITS

Written and Directed by
Ron Schildknecht

Dariya
Kateryna Tkachenko

Tetiana
Ludmila Tyshenko

Marina
Yeva Wild

Translation
Kateryna Tkachenko

Associate Producer
Flora Schildknecht

Camera and Editing
Ron Schildknecht

Production Assistance
Isaac Regalado

Specifications

Project Type: Short
Runtime: 7 minutes 18 seconds
Completion Date: November 16, 2025
Country of Origin: United States
Country of Filming: United States
Language: English, Ukrainian
Shooting Format: Digital
Aspect Ratio:1. 6:9
Film Color: Color