As the world approaches the third anniversary of the war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, a new documentary celebrates the Ukrainian citizens who have found ways to resist the aggression by refusing to let the war derail their passions. Slava Leontyev and Brendan Bellomo’s “Porcelain War,” which opens in theaters in November after debuting at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, follows three artists who opted not to flee Ukraine, and the inspiration that they found in their culture’s traditional porcelain figures.
The synopsis for “Porcelain War” reads: “Amidst the chaos and destruction of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine, three artists defiantly find inspiration and beauty as they defend their culture and their country. In a war waged by professional soldiers against ordinary civilians, Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko and Andrey Stefanov choose to stay behind, armed with their art, their cameras and, for the first time in their lives, their guns. Despite daily shelling, Anya finds resistance and purpose in her art, Andrey takes the dangerous journey to get his young family to safety abroad, and Slava becomes a weapons instructor for ordinary people who have become unlikely soldiers. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to film their story, and on tiny porcelain figurines, Anya and Slava capture their idyllic past, uncertain present and hope for the future.”
Following its Sundance premiere, many critics singled out “Porcelain War” for using its fragile subject matter as a means of exploring the profoundly difficult experience that the Ukrainian people have endured since Russia invaded their country.
“Porcelain here serves as a metaphor for the endurance of the Ukrainian people,” Marya E. Gates wrote in her review for IndieWire. “The co-directors aim to tease their metaphor out by showcasing the artists’ continuing to live and create their beautiful works of art despite the chaos around them. Yet, the directors never quite find the right symmetry between scenes of life and art with those that uncritically glorify violence.”
A Picturehouse release, “Porcelain War” opens November 22 in New York City at the IFC Center and on November 29 in Los Angeles at Laemmle’s Monica Film Center. The film’s rollout across North America will expand from there.
Watch the trailer here:
