Ukraine protest film tonight

A film raising funds for Ukrainian charities and showing artistic defiance in the face of atrocity is being screened at the Robert Burns Centre Film Theatre in Dumfries tonight at 7pm.

The film’s director and writer, Liverpool-born artist and actress Pauline Amos, will be there to introduce Branded (12A), which has a powerful message that resonates with Ukraine and around the world: “We fight For Freedom and Art is our Voice”.

The British Ukrainian narrative feature film – with English subtitles – depicts the persecution of artists in repressive regimes and the struggle of being confined as a prisoner of war is contrasted with the beauty of art. It is currently touring the UK.

Pauline herself performs with the voices of Kateryna Polishchuk (Ptashka of Azovstal a Ukrainian soldier who was captured and held by the Russian army in Mariupol, and another soldier in the Ukrainian army, Nazar Grabar. Both are Ukrainian war heroes.

Before the war with Russia began, Nazar Grabar was an actor and model. He and his brother joined the Ukrainian army his brother was killed. Nazar is the voice of Francis Bacon in Branded.

Kateryna, before the war, was a singer and she was captured by the Russians and kept as a prisoner of war for four months. Pauline said the film is “an expression of support for artists who are censored, imprisoned, or killed by repressive regimes.”

Tickets are on sale at the RBCFT or via Eventbrite.