Feb. 24, 2025 marks three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For the past three years, Ukrainian civilians have been fighting against Russian forces, striving to protect their freedom, their families and the future of their nation. Throughout these three years, Brandeis students and faculty have been holding events to share Ukrainian stories, ensuring the war’s impact remains relevant and present within our community. 

On Sunday, March 30, the Samuels Center for Community Partnerships and Civic Transformation hosted another installment of this effort: a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Porcelain War.” Directed by American filmmaker Brendan Bellomo and Ukrainian artist Slava Leontyev, the film follows Slava, his partner Anya Stasenko and his best friend Andrey Stefanov through the first year of the war. Originally, the collaboration between the two was intended to animate the art on Slava and Anya’s porcelain figurines. However, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the couple decided to stay with Slava joining the Special Forces. As a result, the documentary’s focus quickly shifted. Bellomo sent camera equipment to Slava in Ukraine, directing from afar and communicating via Zoom. 

Before the screening, as Brandeis students and other members of the community filed into the Wasserman Cinematheque, Prof. Toni Shapiro-Phim (CAST) introduced the film and the guest speakers present — Dr. Katja Kolcio, an associate professor of Dance, Environmental Studies, Education Studies and Russian East European Eurasian Studies at Wesleyan University and Daria Pugachova, a multidisciplinary artist and activist from Ukraine. 

Kolcio provided a broader introduction to the film by explaining the role of art as resistance in Ukrainian history. She specifically shared the story of Larysa Petrivna Kosach, a prolific Ukrainian poet and playwright whose work was a declaration of resistance against Russian oppression during the turn of the 20th century. Kosach wrote under the pseudonym “Lesya Ukrainka,” which translates to Lesya the Ukrainian woman. Kolcio shared Kosach’s life history and how she used her art to envision and champion a free Ukraine. Transitioning from Kosach’s work to the film at hand, Kolcio shared how these Ukrainian artists let hope drive their action, with their creativity allowing them to envision a new future, and their art transforming that vision into reality. 

With that, the film began. 

“Porcelain War” began with a breathtaking scene of Slava, Anya and their fearless dog Frodo wandering through a vibrant, sun-drenched field. Each frame was blooming with life. Gradually, moments of artistry began to blend seamlessly into the natural world — starting with the lens of a camera, followed by the strokes of a paintbrush, the delicate shaping of porcelain clay and beyond. The first few minutes were truly idyllic, grounding art in nature and peace. This serenity is shattered however with a jarring cut to the bombed and crumbling buildings of neighborhoods in Ukraine — reminding the audience of the brutal reality of the war. 

Tonally, the majority of the film follows such shifts from moments of beauty and humanity to war and destruction. There are moments where Slava is serving in the Special Forces while Anya paints these dynamic porcelain figures. Scenes of before the war show Andrey painting with his family, juxtaposed with him now taking up arms. The creators of “Porcelain War” utilized their craft not only to tell their story, but to preserve the essence of everything that is being and stands to be lost. Each frame of art, each scene of domestic life, every joke made by people amidst the chaos of conflict, implies a defiance against the forces working to erase Ukraine’s identity and future. As Slava mentioned in the film, you can scare people, but you cannot stop them from living. In such a dehumanizing environment as a battlefield, this film upholds the humanity of each person involved. 

One of the most striking parts of the film is the use of porcelain itself as a medium for artistry. As mentioned, the collaboration between Bellomo and Slava was initially intended to be focused on his and Anya’s porcelain figures. Although the broader focus of the film shifted to the war, at its heart, the film still forefronted the couple’s artistry. In moments where reality fails to capture the true magnitude of their emotions, or the sense would be too dark to portray with live footage, the filmmakers turned to Anya’s paintings on Slava’s figurines to depict the depth of their experiences. Scenes of displacement and terror, bombings and destruction were animated on the small bodies of porcelain animals, each beautifully dynamic and horrifying. Slava and Anya’s art became powerful vessels for the filmmakers to express the unspeakable with a level of artistry and emotion that live footage simply could not capture. 

Porcelain as a material also served as a powerful symbolic element in the film. All of Slava and Anya’s pieces were small and playful, standing in stark contrast to their harsh environment. Yet, even more significant is the symbolism of porcelain itself. At the end of the film, Slava stated, “Ukraine is like porcelain, easy to break but impossible to destroy.” The metaphorical use of this material encapsulates the spirit of these Ukrainians as portrayed through the documentary. Despite the war’s attempt to capture Ukrainian culture and identity, the people, like Slava, Anya and Andrey, refuse to let the nation be destroyed. This duality of fragility and strength runs throughout the film, underscoring the Ukrainian people’s capacity for survival and resistance.

After the film’s conclusion, the audience welcomed Daria Pugachova to the stage. Just like everyone else in the room, this was Pugachova’s first time seeing the film. Though her remarks were brief, she expressed how in this film, you can see all of Ukraine. The spirit of everyone fighting for their freedom and their future resonates in every scene. She urged the audience to keep supporting Ukrainians in their ongoing struggle. 

In the end, “Porcelain War” does not just serve as a document of a war — it is an act of resistance in itself. Through its beautiful imagery and intimate portrayal of individuals caught in the crossfire, it demands that the world remember and acknowledge the price of war, as well as the unwavering spirit of those who continue to fight for the future they desire.