One doesn’t usually associate war movies, and especially documentaries, with words like “beautiful” or “whimsical”, but in this first-hand account from within Russia’s assault on Ukraine, directors Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev frequently call the terms to mind. Interspersed with more traditional footage of warfare and its aftermath, the end result is uniquely stirring, offering a look at the cost of war that isn’t often seen.
Slava lives with his wife Anya Stasenko and their dog Frodo. Together, they craft charming animal figurines out of porcelain; he handles the sculpting and her painting them with colorful, intricate scenes memorializing the events around them. Their existence seems charmed at first, as we observe the three of them enjoying each other’s company and the beautiful Ukrainian countryside. But this idyll is quickly interrupted by a reminder that they are under attack.
We learn that Slava has been fighting the advancing Russian troops along with a closeknit group of his fellow countrymen (and women). The sequences the unit capture with GoPro cameras and aerial drones offer some strikingly close views of both Ukraine and Russia’s field tactics, driving home the reality of the threat and the war’s human costs, though it thankfully never pushes the horror of the situation to the levels of last year’s memorably harrowing 20 Days in Mariupol.
Mostly, Porcelain War is made up of quieter, more human moments, capturing the sadness of the residents as they experience the ruin around them but also their enduring hope and national pride. They point out that many of the targets selected by Russia for destruction imply that the end goal isn’t simply to obtain Ukraine’s land, but also to wipe out their culture, destroying museums and universities and along with the art and history contained within them. Of course, tools of destruction play a major role in warfare, but as this film points out, so do creative works.
By seesawing between despair and hope, human-wrought wreckage and natural beauty, panic and resilience, fear and love, Porcelain War captures life on the ground of a warzone unlike any other film I can recall. It doesn’t ignore the tragedy of the situation, but instead chooses to largely focus on the human spirit and the enduring power of art. It’s a powerful message that feels vital and necessary and makes for a stirring watch. That the adorable Frodo is used liberally throughout certainly doesn’t hurt either. ★★★★★
rated r for language. also contains real war violence and disturbing images.
★★★★★ = Excellent | ★★★★ = Very Good | ★★★ = Good | ★★ = Fair | ★ = Poor
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Where is Porcelain War available?
Looks very interesting. Thanks for posting.
Dotty
It isn’t available anywhere around here yet, but we will update this post when it is.