Kyiv, autumn of 1968. Oleh — a former Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighter who survived years in Soviet camps — struggles to find himself in a new world, still living by the ideals of his fight, while the country moves forward. His wife Vilena dreams of a quiet, ordinary life. Unexpectedly, a writer named Taras enters their lives, offering help while concealing his own motives. What begins as a story about trust and the cost of convictions rapidly turns into betrayal and a trap, with no easy way out. When the city is shaken by a wave of arrests and the line between victim and traitor blurs, Oleh must make a choice that will determine not only his own fate. The world premiere of the film took place at the 42nd Torino Film Festival (November 22–30, 2024), where «The Dissident» was the only Ukrainian film in the main competition program and received a Jury Special Mention award.