The Narrative Core
A Mother. Six Children. A Village at War. In the brutal winter of 1944, a resilient village midwife must navigate the terrors of Nazi occupation during the Slovak National Uprising. Set in Nová Bošáca, Slovakia, this is an intimate war thriller following a mother left entirely alone to protect her family and neighbours as her husband flees to join the resistance. Inspired directly by the director’s own family history, Ashes of Courage is a profound true story of survival, sacrifice, and moral courage.
Cinematic Vision
- An Untold Chapter: The Slovak National Uprising remains one of the least-represented major acts of European resistance in cinema.
- Visual Language: Expect hand-held intimacy that stays incredibly tight on faces and breath, placing the audience directly inside the psychological tension rather than merely observing it.
- Emotional Compass: Grounded in real Central European terrain, the film balances the raw, kinetic terror of survival with deep moral weight.
The Proof-of-Concept Milestone
We are currently raising £10,000 via crowdfunding to fund a professionally shot and edited 3-minute Proof-of-Concept (PoC) short film. This short film will serve as our living cinematic showcase to unlock our larger production path.
- Timeline: Production will be completed within 3 months of funding.
- Deliverables: 3-minute sequence, director’s cut, and a comprehensive lookbook stills package.
- Investor Benefit: All Phase 1 PoC supporters receive an official Associate Producer credit on the finished film.