Cambridge premiere for ‘Magura’ film, a Ukrainian odyssey on war’s effects on families and loved ones
Cambridge is set to host the UK premiere of the film Magura - the first release from the Music Will Save The World foundation initiated by Ukrainian-British opera singer Anna Starushkevych.
The short film, dedicated to the missing people of war both in Ukraine and globally, will be screened at Downing Place United Reform Church on 14 June, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on the psychological effects of war.
Magura is directed by Cambridge resident Ms Starushkevych, who also performs Cara Sposa, an aria by Handel, with music provided by the London-based Endelienta Baroque ensemble.
“Since my close relative went missing at the front nine months ago my family, like many Ukrainian families, have been living in torturous suspense,” says Anna, “every day hoping to hear at least a word about what happened to our loved one.
“Magura was born out of the two conflicting emotions: despair and unshakable hope for his return.”
In Ukrainian mythology, Magura is the pagan goddess of war and victory. Played by Anna, she remodels tragedy into triumph, anxiety into liberation.
The film is both a tribute to Ukrainian resilience and a plea for remembrance and resolution amid the ongoing war, as well as a homage to all those fighting for their freedom around the world. The narrative is divided into three parts: a serene pre-war past, the harsh realities of conflict using documentary footage, and a hopeful victorious future merging myth with reality. The soundtrack, featuring Handel's aria ‘Cara Sposa’ - with its repetitive 'Where are you?' lyrics - accentuates themes of loss and hope.
As the credits roll, a young child sings a Ukrainian song typically sung by a father to his little daughter. With her father missing, the child attempts to recreate the song herself, inadvertently mixing up the words. This is followed by her mother’s gentle giggle and a loving rendition of the song as it should be sung, stepping in for her missing husband and singing from a male perspective, adding a layer of deep emotional resonance to the film's conclusion.
“The film’s central theme is one of hope and faith - the hope for the return of the missing, and the unwavering faith that good will once again triumph over evil,” adds Anna, who has lived in the UK for 16 years. "My hope is that Magura will spark discussions and help fundraise to support those affected by the issues it highlights by featuring the film at various multidisciplinary discussion events, music performances and film festivals.”
The filming included location shoots in Lviv, London and Cambridge, with footage featuring a haute couture dress by Kyiv-based designer Yanis Stepanenko.
The cinematographer for the film, Paul Bradshaw, said of the experience: “The making of Magura has been a journey like no other in my storytelling career.
“The film embodies so many things that are important to me and many others at this moment in European history - the idea of not only survival in a very real sense, but the persistence of humanity’s ideals. This is at the core of the struggle Ukrainians face every day, be they on the front lines, on the way to school, or doing countless jobs across the country in the face of the most abject terror campaign.”
The free-to-register event, starting at 6.30pm on 14 June, will also feature a panel discussion titled ‘The missing people of war in Ukraine and globally’, and a Q&A. The panel includes Ukrainian clinical psychologist Olena Twrtyshmya, Paul Bradshaw, plus a University of Cambridge academic.
The event is sponsored by Cambridge4Ukraine; Cambridge Independent; Cambridge Ukrainian Studies and UAid. Find out more about Music Will Save The World here. Register here.
