Porcelain War is a moving firsthand account of the ongoing War in Ukraine, both serving as a passion project and a valuable historic find for future researchers.
Directors: Brendan Bellomo & Slava Leontyev
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 87′
U.S. Release: November 22, 2024 (limited)
U.K. Release: December 6, 2024
Where to Watch: in cinemas
The ongoing War in Ukraine has displaced millions and dominated the news cycle for years. Yet in the midst of it all, some people still hold onto hope. They use their talents in productive ways, turning trauma into something productive. This is what Porcelain War seeks to accomplish, by taking all of these pent-up emotions and turning them into something beautiful. Even in the darkest, most brutal time of their lives, these artists find ways to make it work.
Porcelain War is about ceramics artists Slava Leontyev, Anya Stasenko, and Andrey Stefanov, who all enlisted for the military in defense of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in 2022. American director Brendan Bellamo surveys and interviews each of them, getting a picture for their homeland and what comes to transpire. Even in the midst of war, these men and women continue to make models out of porcelain. These 3D models are of things like snails, owls, and fairytale creatures. They make great knick knacks and paperweights, with their happy exterior being a shocking contrast to the sorrows of war.
Footage of the bombings of Kharkiv and other horrific events are shown on camera using actual footage. These stories are made to show what is on the line, and how these people still fight to defend it. Slava even works overtime as a trainer, putting others on the front lines for himself. Some parts of the movie are uplifting, some are disparaging, but both are needed. This is how history is catalogued, by the people who lived it. Seeing all sides of the conflict can capture the emotion and drama from those who were there. When in the future, historians look back on the conflict, it will be the testimonials of normal people who gave everything they had to find the story of what went on.
One of the film’s strengths is its use of animation on the porcelain figures. They bring the testimonials of the artists to life in a striking way a mere interview could not. They blend seamlessly into the art, with a snail’s shell turning red with blood to paint a horrific picture of war using as few words as possible. Animation is used where live-action footage and human emotions fail to convey emotion. Sometimes a thousand words require the aid of a picture to fully digest.
At the end of the day, Porcelain War is a movie about real people doing what they love. The war is secondary to their accomplishments and talents, which are the real stars of the show. Some of you at home may be tired of hearing about this war on the news, but this offers a new perspective, from the people who keep on living in spite of the conflict. If the war footage is not too much for you, give it a watch and see what you think.
Porcelain War: Movie Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Three Ukrainian ceramics artists detail their passions and trauma in a firsthand document of the War in Ukraine.
Pros:
- Since the artists are filming themselves, it is a valuable primary source
- Unique and poignant use of animation
- Captures the emotional state of Ukraine well
Cons:
- War footage hard to watch
- As a film about a current event, runs the risk of being dated quickly
Porcelain War, the Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and a contender in this year’s Documentary race at the Oscars, was released in select US theaters on November 22, 2024. The film will have a limited cinema release in the UK on December 6. Read our review of Superpower.
