I am Ukrainian and have been a past member on mission trips to Ukraine to visit orphanages that house children living with the after-effects of the Chornobyl Nuclear Accident. I have been there, I have seen with my own eyes what these children look like. When seeing the children in the film, I was reminded of orphans that I've dealt with. The documentary accurately shows the conditions these children live in and the disabilities they live with. They have large tumors, thyroid cancer, heart anomalies, cerebral palsy, and many more disabilities. Having been in two asylums very similar to the ones shown in the documentary,I hope the only reason for making this documentary was to ask for help from those watching. I've seen firsthand how these children respond to visitors. Even those that are bedridden smile or giggle when you touch them or hold them. Those that are mobile constantly have their arms outstretched for you to pick them up. Though they have disabilities, they no more of what it means to love than "normal" people do. Hopefully, for their sake, people will watch this film and be inspired to help!!! It doesn't take much to make a difference.

When you think of the Chernobyl disaster, you probably think of blurry 80s footage of the ruined reactor, of guys in gas masks evacuating local residents, or the abandoned "zone of exclusion" around the site.But this film offers another perspective: the horrendous legacy of the radiation cloud -- many times worse than Hiroshima -- that continues to affect the lives of millions of people in the region, especially the semi-hermit kingdom of Belarus.*** SPOILER ALERT ***And of those affected by the radioactive particles, none are suffering more than the children. Soaring levels of birth defects, thyroid cancer and heart defects (the film was named after the nickname given to the heart defects).The filmmakers follow the medical and aid workers as they work with these children. It often seems like trying to build sandcastles against a gargantuan tide, and no one seems to go unaffected. Mental retardation, doomed youngsters, tragic parents, traumatized medical staffers ... at times it seems too much.You'll never see a documentary more emotionally wrenching than this. But it's completely worth it. Well made, without polish or a soundtrack. And the short length was a wise choice ... much more would just make it impossible to watch.Watch this documentary if you get the chance. You won't regret it. And it might just change your life.

I saw this film on HBO this morning and was profoundly affected by it. The helpless and abandon children so lonely and suffering brought me to tears. You want to touch them in some way to ease their pain. I, too, was moved to realize just how blessed I really am. It also frightened me when the filmmaker commented that Chernobyl is the next Chernobyl. That the structure is deteriorating and radio active material that remains within it will soon pose even a greater potential for disaster than the first deadly episode. Is there nothing that can be done to prevent this impending catastrophe? I would greatly appreciate any information that an expert might have regarding this extremely grave situation

I just saw this for the second time and it is a truly haunting film. Only about 45 minutes long, I have watched it on HBO once and then recorded it to show to my husband later. It filled me with such sadness and shock that I just had to share the experience. I had no idea that the effects of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl in 1986 were so devastating and so long lasting. It seems to be that this whole situation and condition of this area is kept rather under wraps and silent. If everybody knew about these people and their lives now, I would hope more could and would be done to help. If you want to be informed, touched and moved very deeply, please watch this documentary.