The Righteous One

Animals in War is a poignant anthology film inspired by true stories of animals impacted by the war in Ukraine. A collaboration between Ukrainian and international artists — including actor and activist Sean Penn — the film is a haunting yet captivating call for global awareness and empathy.

Famous Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Pecherytsia, who was supposed to go on tour to Lviv on February 24 with the play “Stolen Happiness”, instead took up arms and went to defend Ukraine in the Kharkiv region. During his rotations and vacations, Oleksandr played in the theater, gave concerts, studied to become a military psychologist, and tried to communicate with his young son as often as possible. Over time, he began to feel a certain duality in his life: the world of war and the world of art, to which he equally belonged, could not coexist in one person; an empty house and short moments with his son only reminded him of the happy times when his family was close; uncertainty about the future of his career, family, country and the inability to influence anything made Oleksandr think about the question “what is the purpose of life for me now?”

The war, which destroyed the illusion of the superiority of art, provoked the actor to a total reassessment of values and made him think about the true meaning of life. What are art and culture and what is their true role if they do not influence the mentality of those who brought evil and death to our country? What will the fame, rewards and success be like when you get off the pedestal?