About the film "MAGURA"
MAGURA is a short film dedicated to people missing as a result of war, both in Ukraine and globally. Blending Ukrainian mythology with a contemporary storyline, it draws together cultural memory, historical resonance and the lived reality of conflict.
Â
At the centre of the film is Magura, the Ukrainian pagan goddess of war and victory, who appears at its climax. The narrative unfolds in three parts: a serene pre-war past, the brutal reality of war told through documentary footage, and a hopeful future in which myth and reality meet.
Sound, symbolism and structure
Handel's aria "Cara Sposa" runs through the film as a constant musical thread. Its repeated question, "Where are you?", intensifies the work's themes of loss, longing and hope, and carries the audience through its emotional journey.
Symbolism shapes the film throughout. A recurring pair of dark green boots represents the enduring spirit of Ukrainian resistance. Wristbands in the colours of Ukraine stand for those missing in the war and are later associated with the goddess, suggesting her protection over them.
​
The third part of the film takes place one year after Ukraine has won the war. This future is suggested through a flyer held by a little girl, symbolising both victory and hope for a peaceful future.
The ending
The closing credits are an essential part of the film's emotional conclusion. A young child sings a Ukrainian song traditionally sung by a father to his little daughter. With her father missing, she tries to recreate the song herself and muddles some of the words.
​
Her mother's gentle giggle is followed by a tender rendition of the song as it should be sung. In stepping in for her missing husband and singing from a male perspective, she adds another layer of emotional depth to the film's final moments.
Artistic context
Directed by Ukrainian-British Anna Starushkevych, an opera singer moved by the personal tragedy of a close relative going missing at the front, MAGURA is both a tribute to Ukrainian resilience and a plea for remembrance and resolution amid the ongoing war. It is also a homage to all those fighting for freedom around the world.
​
At its heart, the film is sustained by hope and faith: hope for the return of the missing, and faith that good will once again triumph over evil.
Public life of the project
MAGURA is intended to spark discussion and raise funds in support of those affected by the issue it addresses. The film is designed to be presented through multidisciplinary discussion events, classical music performances and film festivals.
The film had its world premiere in Münster, Germany, in April 2024.
Â
100% of your kind donation will go to Platzdarm,
a volunteer search group for the missing people of war in Ukraine.
Thank you for your kind support!Â
TEASER
MAGURA TRAILER
100% of your kind donation will go to Platzdarm,
a volunteer search group for the missing people of war in Ukraine.
Thank you for your kind support!Â
People behind MAGURA
Paul Bradshaw – Videographer, Editor, and Co-producer
Jan Capinski – Audio Engineer
Endelienta Baroque Ensemble (Seb Gillot, Maxim Del Mar, Charlotte Amherst, Alexis Bennett, Jacob Garside, Jonny Gee)
Yanis Stepanenko – Ukrainian Couturier, creator of the Magura Dress
Eka Kapanadze – Donor of the dress created by Maestro Stepanenko for her to wear at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 St Peter’s Notting Hill Church, London Wonderspace Studios, Lviv, Ukraine
Yarko Sebalo – Actor (Male Lead)
Y.K. – Actress (Little Girl)
Makeup Artists: Julia Leshanich, Sophia Araya, Ieva Genovesi, Yulia Bentsak
Valentin Vernigor – Colourist
Boti Ordong – VFX Artist
Dash Tenditna – On-set Photography
Natalia Leontieva – Graphic Designer