Directed by Anastasiya Miroshnichenko, a young welder’s solitary life changes when she must care for her half-sister, forcing her to confront childhood trauma and choose between personal dreams and newfound family bonds.

As soon as Welded Together enters Katya’s world, you can feel a lingering sadness and sense of isolation and loneliness. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko gives you a little bit of time to settle into the documentary and get to know Katya before coming for your heart with a vengeance. It starts by exploring these very blunt moments, portraying Katya’s mother’s shortcomings as a parent. Then as the film moves forward, it gets deeper and exposes the intricacies and the depth of the issues within her family.

Heart-breaking is a word that’s been used countless times to describe different films but here it is fitting to a completely different degree. To see this story up close and personal is not easy to watch, Miroshnichenko’s style lets everything hit in such a raw, bold and tough way. It doesn’t shy away at any point and leaves everything plain to see, watching Katya go through all of it packs a harrowing punch. Even more so because from her interactions with other young people, this is clearly not an isolated case, with many others having lost their childhoods to alcoholic parents.

One of the great choices that Miroshnichenko made was to never include direct to camera interviews, to keep it strictly observational. It’s incredibly intimate and absolutely viewed through Katya’s perspective but even in its shocking moments, it never feels intrusive, which is impressive. It seems on the nose to speak of how strongly it captures the reality of alcoholism, after all, it is a documentary, but it also feels entirely appropriate because Miroshnichenko achieves something unique. The access that she has to Katya and her family feels unlike most, you’re injected straight into her world, the good, the bad and the ugly.

While a lot of Welded Together does explore the pain, trauma and continuing strife that Katya faces, it doesn’t miss out on the positives. Miroshnichenko also captures the bond that Katya builds with her half-sister Amina, how she cares for her and deeply considers what is going to be the best future for her, even if it means losing her. Those moments where she ponders that reality are some of the documentary’s most moving and most difficult to watch. As well as how surprisingly supportive her colleagues are, to see them frequently celebrate her and her talents is sincerely touching, especially when she’s the lone woman in a male dominated field.

Welded Together crafts a potent portrayal of the impacts of alcoholism on family members and how complicated and painful it is to try and forge a way forward, when you’re constantly starting again. It’s hard-hitting and raw, the emotions strike so deeply that it’s shattering to watch at times. Anastasiya Miroshnichenko does beautiful justice to both Katya’s struggle and her strength, she’s a remarkable young woman. You won’t forget this one anytime soon, it is intensely affecting.

Verdict: ✯✯✯✯✯ | 10/10

Celebrated its World Premiere as part of Sheffield DocFest 2025 where it won the Grand Jury Award for the International Competition