On the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine, stands Kuyalnyk Sanatorium—a large 1970s building that’s part hotel and part medical retreat. Each summer, thousands of Ukrainians travel to the sanatorium, drawn by Soviet-era therapies and the chance to relax beside the salt lake. The biggest attraction though, is the mysterious black mud, which is said to cure infertility, physical disabilities and various other ailments.
Sanatorium takes us through a summer season at this unusual place, following the staff as they work hard to provide care, comfort and entertainment for visitors—even as the war rages nearby. For the guests, it's a time to seek healing, love and renewal. Despite the airstrikes close by, there’s something about the pastel pink and lime green halls of the sanatorium that keeps drawing people back. Maybe it’s the hope of rejuvenation or maybe it’s something hidden in the mud...
CREW:
Director: Gar O'Rourke
Producer: Andrew Freedman, Ken Wardrop, Samantha Corr
Cinematographer: Denys Melnyk
Production
Screen Ireland, MetFilm Sales, Petite Maison Production, BBC Storyville
Sales:
Awards
CPH: DOX 2025 - World Premiere, In Competition
Director
Gar O’Rourke
Gar O’Rourke is an award-winning Irish documentary filmmaker. His debut feature, Sanatorium (2025), balances humour and tragedy in the stories of staff and guests staying at a unique Soviet-era health resort in southern war-torn Ukraine. The film was recently acquired by Oscar and Emmy-winning BBC Storyville for their prestigious documentary film strand. His debut short film, Kachalka, also filmed in Ukraine, went on to win awards and screen in some of the world’s top film festivals, along with receiving a Vimeo Staff pick and being acquired by some of North America and Europe’s biggest broadcasters. He is currently in pre-production on his second feature documentary, titled The Siege of Paradise, which takes place on the northern Italian Riviera and begins filming in Spring 2025.Selected Filmography
Sanatorium (2024), Kachalka (2019) 
