Porcelain War

Beautiful and meaningful. It gave me a glimpse of what it would be like to be in a war zone. I usually can't watch films about war because of my PTSD, but this one was different. It contained such beautiful art, and many scenes of being out in nature. The cinematography was amazing. This film shows civilians becoming soldiers, not by choice but by necessity..... in order to protect their homes and families. I loved all the subjects that were in the film, including the cute little dog. It made me wonder what I would do in the same situation, and thankful that I will most likely never have to know what my personal choice would be.

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!

A beautifully shot film exploring spaces of beauty within the confines of destruction. A story of love and art and survival. Anya's artwork is magical and magnificent, as is the cinematography. The natural beauty throughout Ukraine is stunning.

I pray Ukraine wins this war, but they have lost so much already. So tragic what the ego of men inflict upon the human condition. It made me realize my normal life could change at any moment. The WSJ did a feature on one of the cities they highlight in the film, Bakhmut, it's worth a look.

I hope all the people in this film will go on to live their regular lives very very soon.

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.

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.