Porcelain War

There couldn't be a greater contrast than porcelain and war. This award-winning documentary, made by artists turned warriors, shows this very clearly. Through their eyes we see the beauty of Ukraine and the horrors of war. These are not professional filmmakers. They took up film to tell their story amidst uncertainty and pain. The result is a true cinematic experience that is real in every way. One can hear their heartbeat, feel the fear, hope, and resilience. The film won the 2024 Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and has just been nominated for the Oscar. Somehow they were able to keep the tenderness through all of it. It has to be the art.

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.

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.

I was at the premiere of this amazing documentary. There was not a dry eye in the audience, with the film's subjects and its creators receiving a heartfelt, long-standing ovation after the screening.

"Porcelain War" stands out as a unique, cinematic piece that skillfully narrates the captivating journey of three artists amidst the backdrop of a war-torn country. It serves as a poignant testament to the struggles faced by "ordinary people under extraordinary circumstances" as one of the artists says.

This powerful film serves as a reminder of the significance of preserving our humanity and identity, even under the most dire conditions. It evokes empathy for those compelled to defend these fundamental values often taken for granted.

As an added bonus to the film's message, I enjoyed the amazing shots of nature and beautiful music.

I am deeply touched by this film!

It is worth a dear lot staying clear and pure in times like these.

People creating magnificent art of tender porcelain under bombs do not only create paradox - they demonstrate us that the paradox is quite possible if one gets out of his own small box and looks outside.

It turns out people still try to live their lives even being in grave daily danger, people still open their hearts to harmony and poetry of form and color.

The world is full of darkness and atrocities but yet it is a place of genuine beauty and remarkable resilience.

I dearly wish Slava and Anya as well as other Ukrainians overcome this wave of unspeakable blackness and their art will shine with even more colors.

The figurines are such a perfect manifestation of human spirit.

Thank you for capturing this on screen!