Jennifer Dean
West, B. (Director). Mack, E. (Executive Producer). (2024) Once Upon a Time in the Ukraine. Video Project. 32 minutes. The short documentary Once Upon a Time in the Ukraine, far from a simplistic and sentimental fairy tale, is a profound portrayal of war through the eyes of children living through it. Perhaps closer to a traditional Brothers Grimm tale in its unflinching depiction of darkness, the movie illustrates the inevitable displacement of war as experienced by average civilians. The filmmakers give the protagonists of the film, the Ukrainian children affected by the fighting, the opportunity to share their stories seemingly unmediated by the adults in their lives, with only a few sparse clips of their parents providing context. A particularly striking moment is when one mother of two boys shares a nuanced fear that her children will have to grow up to fight for their country. She remarks that she doesn’t want them to have to pick up weapons, “I don’t want my children to kill anyone.” Amidst the often poignant and innocent perspectives of the children themselves, this statement emphasizes the trauma of warfare, not only for those being killed but also for those required to do the killing. Simple map animations inspired by the artwork of Ivanna (one of the young subjects who while hiding in her cellar from the bombs and shooting took to writing stories and drawing armies of vegetable soldiers) effectively work as transitions throughout the film. The drone footage of decimated buildings, appearing over the kids talking about the homes they remember and their existence before the war, highlights the harsh realities of the lives they are navigating now. A subtle musical score is accompanied by atmospheric sounds of bombing and shooting/nature and birds, providing a soundscape of the duality constantly present, the underlying innocence of children which is compromised while growing up during warfare. The maturity and sensitivity of all of the young subjects as they continue to engage with the world with imagination and play despite the destruction brings to mind a documentary depiction of fictionalized narratives of kids and societal conflicts. There is something particularly jarring about watching children coping with adult carnage created by conflicts. What first came to mind when viewing Once Upon a Time in the Ukraine is the opening scene of Cary Joji Fukunaga’s Beasts of No Nation (2015) where kids play on a soccer field, utilizing a hollowed out television set to create their own entertainments despite the cruelty of war. For a film studies class, this short could provide a wonderful companion piece to Fukunaga’s film along with other movies that engage with the specific perspective of children such as John Boorman’s Hope and Glory (1987), a sentimental retelling of a young boy in England during World War II. For a post-war perspective that focuses on the devastation that lingers, Vittorio De Sica’s The Bicycle Thief (1948) would also provide valuable insights. Beyond film studies classes, Once Upon A Time in the Ukraine would be an excellent tool for any course addressing the trauma inflicted on juveniles in conflict zones or a general study of child development. I highly recommend the film for a variety of courses both for its content and execution. Awards: United Nations Association Film Festival, Official Selection Oscar-Shortlisted, Best Documentary Short Film Critics Choice Awards Nominee, Best Short Documentary