“PALYANYTSIA”: A Documentary About Art, War, and Ukrainian Resilience
On October 8, a closed screening of the documentary “PALYANYTSIA” (1h 4min) will take place at the “Oscar” cinema (Gulliver Mall). The film is about freedom, war and inner strength a view of Ukraine through the lens of art. Before the screening, there will be a photo exhibition-installation created by artists Bandit, Johnny and Tristan, which will immerse viewers in the inner world of the artists, their vision of Ukraine and the process of creating murals.
The authors of the film are street artists from Los Angeles Bandit (USA), Tristan (USA), Johnny (USA) (Aerosol Arsenal Films), and their like-minded colleague and coordinator Kateryna Tymchenko (Ukraine) who set off on a journey through Ukrainian cities already during the full-scale Russian invasion. They aimed to see and document how the country is fighting for its freedom and to find a way to speak about the war through the language of art. During their travels and stay in Ukraine, the artists created 33 works.
Over two and a half years, the artists visited Kyiv, Irpin, Bucha, Borodianka, Kharkiv, Izyum, Kramatorsk, Kostyantynivka, Odesa, and Mykolaiv. Each of these cities became not only a point on the map, but a personal experience that demands reflection. Despite pain, loss, and destruction, Ukrainians remain strong, and their resilience has become a phenomenon that cannot be ignored.
Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEFPGKhpHJk
Art in “PALYANYTSIA” acquires new meaning: it ceases to seek answers and instead becomes an instrument for asking questions about humanity, freedom, and the ability to remain oneself amidst the chaos of war.
The film’s title is symbolic. “Palyanytsia” is a word that has become a password, a marker of identity and strength. In the film, it appears as a metaphor that prompts each viewer to pause and ask themselves: Who am I? Whose side am I on? What am I willing to change in myself to change the world?
Previous screenings of “PALYANYTSIA” have already taken place this August in San Clemente (Los Angeles, USA) and in Kyiv at the Kinobucket festival. The film also became part of the international film marathon Culture vs War, which united around 60 screenings in 18 countries around the world.
The premiere of the film is planned at the Molodist Festival 2025.
Film characters:
Bandit (USA)
Tristan (USA)
Johnny (USA)
Kateryna Tymchenko (Ukraine, Aerosol Arsenal Films)
Creative team:
Directors – Kadim Tarasov and Yulia Bolshynska (MUSEcutFILM)
Producers – Kateryna Tymchenko, Ryan Smith
Co-producer – Andriy Rizol
The project was created with the participation of: Antytila band, Oleksandra Paskal, Olga Stoyan, Olena Sergeieva, members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with the support of the National Police of Ukraine and others.
Several works created during the project:
- “A Matter of Time” – a Ukrainian soldier on the clock hand, with his beloved on the other hand, trying to move the clock to make him return home safe and alive as soon as possible.
Bucha, April 2024, Bandit - The image of a woman – a mother, wife and daughter who has lost loved ones. A commemorative mural on 144 Yablunska St., which became part of a memorial to honor eight fallen fighters of the Territorial Defense, who defended Bucha and were brutally executed by Russian occupiers.
Anatolii Prykhidko, Andriy Matviychuk, Andriy Verbovyi, Denys Rudenko, Andriy Dvornikov, Sviatoslav Turovskyi, Valerii Kotenko, and Vitalii Karpenko names forever carved in memory.
Bucha, April 2024
About the Author
Related posts:
UBiennale 2025 in Kyiv: Digital Art, VR, AR, and International Installations at “Field of Memory. Time for Recovery” 
Atlas Festival 2025 in Kyiv: lineup, program, and charity goal 
Kyiv Stands: What We Celebrate on Kyiv Day 2025 
The New Ballet “La Fille mal gardée” in Kyiv: Cultural Independence and Repertoire Change
