Porcelain War

I had the pleasure of seeing this film premier at Sundance Film Festival this year. This story about 3 Ukrainian artists living in a war zone was eye opening, intense, inspiring and hopeful.

You really connect with the subjects of the film as you walk through their world with them (and their military unit and loved ones), hear their stories (both happy and sad), feel their hurt, and listen to their hopes.

The use of imagery and art to convey their story is beautifully done and so effective. The contrast of the war scenes with nature and art are incredibly well done and balanced. The music throughout is all Ukrainian, which immerses you even more. It is absolutely artfully filmed.

Beautiful and meaningful. It gave me a glimpse of what it would be like to be in a war zone. I usually can't watch films about war because of my PTSD, but this one was different. It contained such beautiful art, and many scenes of being out in nature. The cinematography was amazing. This film shows civilians becoming soldiers, not by choice but by necessity..... in order to protect their homes and families. I loved all the subjects that were in the film, including the cute little dog. It made me wonder what I would do in the same situation, and thankful that I will most likely never have to know what my personal choice would be.

I saw this film for the first time at its premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024 and was very impressed. The sound, cinematography, editing, color grading are all fantastic. Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo are both gifted storytellers. You really get to know each of the film's subjects. In a world full of depressing hopeless documentaries, this film really focuses on the idea of hope amid destruction, and it does not deviate from that message even during moments of wartime. Although war-torn Ukraine is well documented at this point, stories of its ordinary citizens, especially artists and those trying to put beauty back into the world, are not.

A beautifully shot film exploring spaces of beauty within the confines of destruction. A story of love and art and survival. Anya's artwork is magical and magnificent, as is the cinematography. The natural beauty throughout Ukraine is stunning.

I pray Ukraine wins this war, but they have lost so much already. So tragic what the ego of men inflict upon the human condition. It made me realize my normal life could change at any moment. The WSJ did a feature on one of the cities they highlight in the film, Bakhmut, it's worth a look.

I hope all the people in this film will go on to live their regular lives very very soon.

The beautiful filming of nature is exquisite in this film as it is portrayed in the midst of a devastating war-zone. The families depicted in the film are warm, talented, compassionate and giving, yet they are living in a world of destruction, danger, fear and devastation. Finding hope in the middle of a desperate and almost hopeless situation shows the strength and determination of the Uranian people as they determinedly protect the homeland they love. The film left me with such anger that a larger threatening country can destroy lives of peaceful existence of kind, compassionate and good people and replace it with hatred, evil and selfishness. My heart is with the people of the Ukraine with hopes that they can hold on to their beloved land and restore life one day as it should be lived in all countries around the world.