EXCLUSIVE: The Voice of Despair reviewed - premiering in Cannes 2025

The filmfestivals.com were privileged to watch this new short film from Ukraine (14minutes ahead of it's Cannes WorldPremiere. The team wants to share the emotion they had watching this brillant, creative  but tragic war story which sends a very strong message. Read the reviews below.

The Voice of Despair delivers a powerful affecting narrative told from a new perspective - that of an unborn child. Conceived because of a brutal sexual assault, the film brings the audience within the womb of his mother. As the war rages on outside, The Voice of Despair through this haunting inner monologue, explores the silent traumas of the Ukrainian war, the violation of innocence, and the unspoken resilience. It sheds light on the personal cost of conflict through a voice not meant to be heard.

"The Voice of Despair" left a deep impression on me. Nina Goldvin tells a story that felt personal and universally painful. The perspective of the unborn child adds an eerie innocence that contrasts with the brutal and violent subject matter. Goldvin captured the disgusting feeling of unwanted guests and how you must continue to move on with your life and that lingering feeling. She captured the impossible act of healing. As a woman, and as someone who knows many others who share similar experiences, I can sadly relate to the lasting impact these experiences leave. I truly appreciate how effectively Goldvin captures this emotion in her film.

Maddie Ballard

Nina Goldvin provides an emotionally stirring performance in her short film debut, “The Voice of Despair”. Goldvin not only stars as the protagonist, but she also assumes the role of producer and director, making this film a personal triumph for her in many ways. This film depicts the real life story of Mary, a woman struggling through the hardships of the Ukrainain war and the aftermath of a traumatic rape which has left her carrying a child. “The Voice of Despair” focuses on the lasting wound left behind by war; the inherent destruction of freedom and innocence is amplified by Mary’s personal situation as she navigates life following her assault. The film remains concise, we watch Mary face the trials of pregnancy whilst her city devolves into a battlefield before her eyes– a deep depression grows in Mary as she struggles with the idea of bringing her child into such a brutal world. Goldvin’s powerful acting very clearly conveys the emotional situation unfolding within– the turmoil, guilt, and eventual loss she faces. Her performance is raw, and leaves the viewer with a deep emotional attachment to Mary and all those in similar situations as a result of war and violence

In many ways, the audience's expectations of a biographical depiction are subverted by the film's use of narration; rather than this narration being delivered by Mary, it is delivered via the voice of her unborn child. While this narration could at times be heavy handed in reinforcing the already apparent themes, it was impactful for the viewer to contemplate the lives ruined by war– sometimes before they even begin. The main critic of the film, however, lies with the visual depiction of the unborn child. When this baby is displayed, it is understandably shown in a cartoonish manner, a stark contrast to the raw reality shown up to this point. This juxtaposition is jarring and pulls the viewer out of the harsh realism the film seeks to convey. One wonders if the narration alone, not accompanied by visuals of this animated baby, would be more stirring for the audience. Overall, the film is exceedingly impactful. In a mere 14 minutes Goldvin manages to leave her audience with a lasting understanding of the destruction of war, and perhaps most importantly, a deeper solidarity with all those fighting personal struggles against hostility. 

Ava Cambra - filmfestivals.com

The Voice of Despair is a story with a deeply haunting and powerful perspective on women’s lives during war and the unspoken trauma and pain often experienced by survivors. Told from the perspective of a fetus conceived through sexual assault, this film follows the mother, Mary, who is a survivor of the Ukrainian war, dealing with the trauma of the ongoing war and the guilt of carrying a child she never wanted. The Voice of Despair is not only a powerful film, but a critically important one as well. In a time where politicians worldwide are arguing about how women should be able to use their bodies, writer, director, and actor Nina Goldvin creates a proactive dialogue on the topic of maternal guilt and the internal struggle of bringing a child conceived through assault to term. Goldvin gives a voice to the many civilian women terrorized by the horrors of war in ways that are often untold in the media. Goldvin uses these two major themes to craft a unique perspective that will give audiences a chance to understand a world outside of their own and allow them to create a different perception of these issues through the eyes of women who often struggle to be heard. The Voice of Despair is a beautifully crafted story that sparks necessary conversations about maternity and trauma from the perspective of the women who struggle with these issues. 

Sean Knowles - filmfestivals.com

The Voice of Despair was able to fit so much story, symbolism, and meaning into such a short runtime. The connection between war and the child’s conception is masterfully crafted, although the gift of life is precious the child would be born from rape, just as the victory of war is born from the death and destruction of countless lives. From what I understood, the film's core message was that “In the pursuit of a solution, Humans become destructive.” This is shown through war where countries will slaughter and terrorize other countries with the hopes of winning, the sexual assault Mary endured where the attacker mentally and physically harmed her for his sexual pleasure, Mary’s suicide which hurts herself and effects those around her while attempting to end her suffering, and the babies death which he sees as a way of helping his mother. Everything in this film was done for a reason, and I believe that it was able to get its point across without getting lost in the details or diluting the gravity of either situation.

Jack Nilsen - filmfestivals.com

Nina Goldvin is a multifaceted creative soul of origin, known for her contributions to the fields of film art and personal development. Originally, from Ukraine, Nina demonstrated a love for the arts from an early age: she graduated from an art school and always dreamed of sharing her vision of the world through creativity. Even as a child, she would tell her mother about her desire to make films and share her perception of life with others. Nina feels a deep connection with nature, drawing inspiration and wisdom from it, and she practices meditation as a path to inner growth.

As an actress and executive producer, Nina collaborated with director Matthew Brown on the film “Freud’s Last Session,” starring Anthony Hopkins and MatthewGoode. Film and meditation occupy a special place in her life.

Recently, Nina produced, directed, and starred in her first short film, “The Voice of Despair,” a 14-minute project where she played the lead role. “The story of the short film is tragic. Unfortunately, it is not an inspiring one. However, I realized how important it is to show what a woman can go through during wartime – and how unacceptable this reality is. The story touched me deeply, and during meditation, I found myself crying from the pain it evoked. That’s when I made the decision to transform this pain into the art of cinema.” Currently, she is working on the development of her debut feature-length motion picture