"For the Very First Time Since the War Started, They Could Show Their Pure Beauty Again"

Image source: pixabay.com

A war is not an ordinary situation, but usually when something bad happens, people find in themselves a strong compulsion to help and support each other. That happened this year, when the war in Ukraine started. 

It is a story about a photo shoot that was an act of goodwill, readiness to help and the need of fighting against the war. It started with a simple idea – let’s arrange a photo shoot for Ukraine women, who escaped to Poland, so they could feel feminine, beautiful and confident again, so they could send their nice pictures to the fighting men in Ukraine with a strong message ‘Look, I'm safe, I’m fine, you don't have to worry about me. Just do, whatever you have to do, to win our country back’. But as it turned out it was way much more than that. 

The project from Ukrainian producer Anastasia Solonevich went way deeper than anyone could have ever expected. With support of producers from Graffiti Films, Anastasia arranged a photo session which turned out to be a special space for Ukrainian women, where they not only took pictures for their fighting men, but they got warmth, care, understanding, a place to share their stories, to be listened to. It was their time when they could feel their femininity again. They could be delicate, fragile and vulnerable but also confident, strong and independent for the very first time since the war started. They could show their pure beauty again.

It was also an important experience for all the members of the crew. We hired Ukrainian filmmakers who are also refugees. It was their first job experience on a set since the beginning of the war. They faced the challenge and provided excellent services. Most of them do simple jobs in Poland like cleaning, working in a warehouse etc. The biggest problem is a language barrier. But that experience let them feel good about themselves and showed us how much they need to be back on set again. It is not just about the job anymore, it is more about identity and humanity.

The session took place in April. We wanted to continue this project, however the team wanted to make it bigger, more relevant, more visible, more helpful. Every woman deserves to be heard, to be listened to. Every one of them deserves a moment for celebrating their femininity again.

Of course our intention is to let the women talk and inspire the rest of the world, not only the fighting Ukrainian soldiers. But also our goal is to help Ukrainian filmmakers by giving them jobs in this project and also giving them space for association with Polish filmmakers and Polish environment. 

We truly hope that with support of our national and international Friends this photoshoot will be a beginning of something bigger. We treat this session like a first episode of a greater project. 

"I was interested because it is similar to what I did before the war because I want to feel in my place, beautiful and alive. The war took away from me this feeling - to be alive" Yana, 27

"Life has turned into constant stress and anxiety, so for me, this project is a starting point for a new page and a return to creativity. You look in the mirror and do not feel yourself, but you want to see the beauty in yourself and your compatriots, despite such bitter events." Lidiya, 35

"I want to return to normal life, to hug loved ones, to hug Ukrainian refugee women. And in the morning, drink coffee and think, what will I wear to the office today ... what hairstyle will I do... what perfumes will I use. I understand that my life has changed forever, but I just want to taste that life taken from us, the spring stolen from us.." Olga, 33

"I believe that a woman is first and foremost about love. About strength. About tenderness. About a smile. About the breath of life. And it is these qualities that support our men at the front, these voices read fairy tales to children to distract from the explosions. Women are also at war now. We also have our front. I felt it in Irpen. The past is gone. And you lose that identity. And now I want to start building myself. New one. Do not blur, do not break. And from finding again that love, that tenderness, beauty. And see: I am. I live." Valeria, 28

"I missed our girls, just talk, ask 'how are you?' And talk about how we will return to Ukraine, talk about a bright future in which we believe. I want to allow myself to do something, allow myself to smile. I want to meet colleagues, and women who are in the same circumstances as me. We will support each other, and become beautiful as before the war" Luba, 26