„If I could fly ” deals with the traumas experienced by children as a result of war or fleeing from war. The heroine, Lika (10), who had to flee from Kyiv to Berlin at the start of the war with her little sister Daria (4) and their mother Maria (35), processes her experiences through dreams in which she can fly. Flying symbolizes her fears and represents the desire to escape the dangers she faces—the fear of bombs, the fear of dying, the fear of losing her family, and the longing for her father, who had to stay behind. At night, in the refugee shelter, she tells her little sister about the dreams, presenting them as exciting adventures to appear strong in front of her.
When her little sister, who actually believes Lika can fly, asks why she doesn’t fly to their father and bring him home, Lika makes this naive yet telling wish of her little sister come true—at least in her dream.
The film portrays the war through the eyes of children, without judgment or blame. It simply
presents a child's perspective: What would be the simplest solution for a 4-year-old? She doesn't understand politics or history; unlike the adults, she can't change anything, she can't protest, she can't prevent anything. She just wants her dad to come home