Cellist Lukas Stasevskij Tells His Story in ‘My Ukraine’

Acclaimed cellist Lukas Stasevskij pursues his dream of cinema with documentary “My Ukraine,” at present in growth and set to make a bow subsequent week throughout movie trade occasion Finnish Film Affair.

The movie is produced by Tero Tamminen (East Movies) and Ilona Tolmunen (Made), additionally behind Aino Suni’s “Heartbeast,” just lately snapped up by France’s Wayna Pitch.

“When Lukas approached Tero Tamminen after which they referred to as me, we have been each instantly ,” Tolmunen tells Selection, praising Stasevskij’s “common” story about discovering one’s id and understanding the that means of roots.

“We’re conscious there are such a lot of tales coming from Ukraine for the time being, however ours has this hyperlink between Ukraine and Finland. As a filmmaker, Lukas is in the beginning of his profession, however as an expert cellist he has a singular approach of approaching the world.”

The movie gained’t shrink back from classical music both. After the invasion, Stasevskij went viral because of movies displaying him taking part in within the midst of destruction and smash.

“At first, I believed it was silly: Why the hell ought to I do it? However many Ukrainians have been touched by it. They thought it confirmed our tradition was nonetheless alive,” he says.

Born right into a household of artists – his sister Dalia Stasevska is the principal visitor conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra – he moved to Finland as a toddler, creating a “problematic relationship with Ukraine.” In 2021, he determined to embrace his background and give attention to filmmaking, prepared to review directing in Kyiv.

“After which the battle began,” he says. However he determined to remain.

“I’m not one other battle vacationer, who got here right here after it began. I wished to make Ukrainian movies and couldn’t simply go away. It was fairly chaotic at first, I had a Finnish passport and no army coaching. Then [Finland’s broadcasting company] YLE contacted me and I began filming,” he explains.

“I wished to make fiction movies, so it’s loopy that I ended up making a documentary about myself. I’ve been performing all my life, nevertheless it nonetheless feels very bizarre.”

Affected by pictures from the Maidan revolution, Stasevskij moved to Ukraine to seek out his id, solely to understand others have been questioning it as properly as soon as the battle started, particularly Russian-speaking Ukrainians, encouraging him to interweave a number of tales.

Does he really feel Ukrainian now?

“Somebody requested me that after I first moved right here. I’ll all the time have Ukrainian roots, nobody can take that away from me. However it’s a fancy situation. Some Ukrainians say I’m Finnish, Finns say I’m Ukrainian. My organic mom is Lithuanian. It’s not about your ethnical background, I believe. It’s about what you are feeling.”

Self-identification is a course of, he says.

“After I was nonetheless in Finland, I used to be ashamed to be Ukrainian. Then one thing modified. It’s good to consider these points typically and I hope this movie will encourage others to do it.”

Earlier than the battle, Stasevskij was engaged on a “Django Unchained”-like revenge story a few woman attempting to get even after her boyfriend is shot throughout Maidan protests.

“I wished to point out folks lastly getting justice. However after the battle began, one producer instructed me that we should always present Ukraine in a distinct gentle, as a result of we nonetheless have a humorousness, we nonetheless have a brighter facet.”

A slew of celebrities visiting Ukraine, from Sean Penn to Ben Stiller, have been praising their resilience as properly. However Stasevskij stays skeptical.

“We dwell on this meme tradition and everybody needs to be included. It’s not forbidden for non-Ukrainian to make movies about Ukraine, however there have to be one thing actual and trustworthy about their method,” he says.

“These very first days, they have been so dramatic. You didn’t know what was taking place. I used to be sitting in a bomb shelter, feeling hopeless. Questioning how it’s potential that these assholes simply come right here and destroy every part I like.”

“I might say it was necessary to point out that individuals have been preventing again then, regardless that they thought they didn’t stand an opportunity. Now, it’s totally different. Now, now we have hope.”