Bialiatski

An intimate journey into the enduring reality of human rights, shaped by decades-long relationships with the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski from Belarus—carried forward by the women who stand by his side. Bialiatski’s presence comes to life through the voices of those who have lived and worked alongside him for decades. The focus is on human rights activists Natalia Pinchuk, Bialiatski’s wife, and his closest colleague, Sasha Koulaeva. Through memories, everyday gestures, and years of shared experiences, they show what it means to stay with someone when history goes in circles instead of moving forward. The film moves through places marked by authoritarian experiences, from Belarus to Tunisia to Colombia, and follows a recurring rhythm of hope, exhaustion, and return that connects human rights defenders across borders and generations. Also participating are Nobel Prize-winning author Svetlana Alexievich and the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Berit Reiss-Andersen.