Serhii Plokhy on "Bucha": Witnessing the Strength of the Ukrainian Spirit Through Film
On Monday, March 4th, the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard (HURI), the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University and the MIT-Ukraine Program co-sponsored a screening of the feature film "Bucha" that left us all in awe of the power of art to shed light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. The event included a conversation with the director and producer that will stay with us for a long time.
Serhii Plokhy, the author of The Russo-Ukrainian War, put it perfectly: "This is a movie based on a true story that one wished was not true and a powerful evidence of the criminality of Russia's war on Ukraine and the strength of the human spirit that only art can produce."
The production of "Bucha" is directly connected to our mission at Cash For Refugees (CFR) in Ukraine. Natasha Dukach, the CEO of the organization, first met the Kyiv-based producer, Oleksandr Shchur, in April 2022 when he picked her up at the Ukrainian border during a mission to deliver financial aid to Ukrainian IDPs. Since then, Semyon and Natasha, who are spouses and CFR co-founders, have invested in the production, helping Oleksandr line up additional private screenings and pre-launch promotion and marketing in the US because we truly believe this film can make a real impact on the deadlocked $60B in aid for Ukraine.
"Bucha" is the first feature film produced during the full-scale war, and it's not a typical documentary. It's an engaging and emotional drama with deep Christian symbolism that has the potential to create broad engagement if it gets the top-tier distribution it deserves.
We want to thank our co-sponsors, Ukrainian Research Institute and the Davis Center at Harvard and the MIT-Ukraine Program, the talented photographers, Anna Kreslavskaya and David Hambridge, and everyone who came to the screening for the support and dedication in capturing this important evening. At Cash for Refugees, we remain committed to supporting the people of Ukraine during this challenging time, and we believe that art like "Bucha" can play a crucial role in raising awareness and inspiring action.
