Documentary “One Good Reason” now available
Short film details Ukraine family’s journey to safety in Unity
A documentary called “One Good Reason” hit screens all over the U.S. on Tuesday. The documentary tells the story of the Hnatiuk and Luchterhand families who have created an unexpected bond over the last nine months.
The 25-minute documentary aired at the Tribeca film festival on its opening night on June 7. The film can be seen at ServiceNow.com/OneGoodReason.
The documentary was created by Emmy Awardwinning directors Perri Peltz and Matthew O’Neill. The duo conducted interviews over the course of a week while following the Hnatiuk and Luchterhand families through their daily lives.
In an effort to keep their kids safe from the destruction and conflict in their home country, Mykola and Olesia Hnatiuk moved their family, consisting of their two sons, Dymtro and Roman, to the U.S. The Luchterhands saw the destruction from afar and decided they could do their part to help. They signed up to sponsor a family from Ukraine through WelcomeConnect, and eventually matched with the Hnatiuk family.
Local community member Kris Woik and staff members from Colby Elementary School, Brenda Medenwaldt and Katherine Pettis are also in the documentary.
Max Luchterhand, who with her husband, Bryce, converted a second home on their farm into a place for the Hnatiuks, said the purpose of the documentary has never been to highlight what they’ve done as a crowning achievement, but has been to show what American people can do to support the families in Ukraine who are caught up in the war. “The purpose of the documentary is to get other people interested in sponsoring families,” Max said. “The producers have won Emmys for their documentary films around the world. We were surprised and honored that they spent time with us here on our farm.” The Hnatiuks arrived at the Luchterhand farm in early 2023 and have made the adjustment to life in rural Unity. Their hometown of Lviv has not been the center of conflict, but has been under attack by Russian forces periodically throughout the war.
“All of my family is over there,” Olesia Hnatiuk said in a March interview. “It’s a pain to see this.”
Although the Hnatiuks have escaped the violence of the war in Ukraine, the battle with adjusting to a new country and way of life was just beginning. The short film shows some of the struggles and hardships associated with day to day tasks in a new country.
The documentary shows some of the destruction in Ukraine and also goes into detail about the Luchterhand’s decision to invite a family of strangers into their home. The documentary was released on World Refugee Day and promoted the use of WelcomeConnect to help sponsor refugees from areas like Ukraine.
Nearly two million Americans from every corner of the country have raised their hands to welcome and support individuals and families in need of safety through the U.S. government’s humanitarian programs, which require the support of a sponsor.
Yet today, there are still over 16,000 displaced persons registered on the Welcome Connect platform that are waiting to connect with an American sponsor.
Notable Q uote
“Your home should be your fortress. Comfortable, quiet, safe... That’s what home should feel like. In Ukraine, we lost that feeling. And here, we have found it again.”
Olesia Hnatiuk, Refugee from Ukraine on finding a home with the Luchterhands
