Porcelain War
2024, NR, Australia, US, Ukraine, Documentary, 87 minutes
Ukrainian and Russian with English Subtitles
Directors: Brendan Bellomo, Slava Leontyev
Producers: Aniela Sidorska, PGA; Paula DuPré Pesmen, PGA; Camilla Mazzaferro; Olivia Ahnemann
Writers: Aniela Sidorska, Brendan Bellomo, Paula DuPré Pesmen, Slava Leontyev
Cast: Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko, Andrey Stefanov
Amidst the devastation of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, three artists — Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko and Andrey Sefanov—stand defiant, finding inspiration and beauty as they use their art to defend their culture and their country. In a war waged by professional soldiers against ordinary civilians, these artists choose to stay behind, armed with their creativity, cameras and, for the first time in their lives, guns. Despite daily shelling, Anya channels her resistance into her art, Slava becomes a weapons instructor for ordinary citizens-turned-soldiers and Andrey embarks on a perilous journey to secure his family’s safety. As the war intensifies, Andrey picks up his camera to document their story while Anya and Slava capture their memories, struggles and hopes through tiny porcelain figurines, symbolizing their idyllic past, uncertain present and hope for the future.
