Once Upon a Time in Ukraine

2024 0h 32m UK

Documentary

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

As the Ukraine war moves into its third year, a surprising story of resilience: how children in Ukraine are surviving the Russian war machine that has targeted them and their families. With creativity and imagination they have transformed backyards and playgrounds destroyed by missiles, invented fairy tales where vegetable armies vanquish Russian attackers, and carried on the Ukrainian tradition of music and dance in bombed out studios. Life behind the frontlines as seen through the eyes of the children who will inherit a country struggling to survive a brutal invasion.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Betsy West
Languages: Ukrainian
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 32-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Released 2 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

ERA

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Betsy West, shot by Andryi Kalashnikov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ilya Chaiken shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt34383381 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Betsy West directs. Andryi Kalashnikov behind the camera. Ilya Chaiken cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in Ukrainian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 32-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 2 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
4Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
5Directed by Betsy West, shot by Andryi Kalashnikov. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Editor Ilya Chaiken shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7IMDB entry: tt34383381 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.