From the frontlines to the world stage, Soldiers of Song is a searing and soulful have a look at the resilience of artists caught within the crossfire of struggle. Directed by Ryan Smith, the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker behind NFL 360: Who If Not Us, this highly effective documentary affords a deeply human have a look at Ukrainian musicians who traded devices for arms to defend their nation — and in doing so, redefined the that means of resistance.
Now out there on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, Soldiers of Song is a must-watch for anybody who believes within the energy of artwork to endure, uplift, and unify.
🎬 IMDb web page: Soldiers of Song (2024) 📸 Official Website: soldiersofsongfilm.com
A Story Born from the Trenches
The inspiration for Soldiers of Song started throughout Smith’s earlier work on NFL 360: Who If Not Us, a gripping quick doc that adopted Ukrainian athletes who left the gridiron for the battlefield.
“While sourcing music for that project, I connected with many Ukrainian musicians and discovered their incredible resilience and dedication to their country,” Smith recollects.
This emotional thread would turn out to be the heartbeat of Soldiers of Song — a movie that goes past headlines to indicate how music and identification can turn out to be weapons of survival.
The Cost of Creation in Wartime
From Boombox frontman Andriy Khlyvnyuk—who swapped sold-out live shows for flying drones in trenches—to the lack of Illya Hravar, a gifted pianist who volunteered to battle and by no means got here residence, the documentary captures sacrifice in its rawest kind.
“These stories highlight the painful choices artists have had to make, trading their instruments for weapons, knowing that their country’s survival is at stake.”
The movie doesn’t simply doc these transitions; it honors them with lyrical energy and searing honesty.
Soundtracking Survival
Music isn’t simply the topic of Soldiers of Song—it’s the emotional language of the movie. Through tracks by artists like Slava Vakarchuk and dwell frontline performances, Smith weaves a sonic tapestry of resilience.
“I integrated music by using performances… whose songs have become anthems of resilience,” he explains. “We also incorporated recordings from the front lines, where soldiers used music to stay connected to their identity.”
This method turns the movie into each a documentary and a residing mixtape of a nation below siege.
Real People, Real War
Real People, Real War“One key lesson I took from Who If Not Us was the importance of personal storytelling,” Smith says. “I wanted to focus on the individuals behind the war—people with dreams, families, and passions who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances.”
Working alongside greater than 30 Ukrainian collaborators, together with embedded cinematographers and area producers, the manufacturing crew captured all the pieces from frontline footage to highly effective musical avenue performances. In one significantly transferring scene in Lviv’s Rynok Square, Smith stumbled upon scholar singers elevating funds for a teacher-turned-soldier.
“Their passion and emotion were palpable. We knew instantly they had to be part of the film.”
Grit Behind the Lens
Producing a movie in an lively struggle zone got here with important challenges. Editors Kadim and Julia labored remotely out of Irpin, usually battling energy outages and freezing circumstances.
“Scheduling interviews in a country at war also proved challenging,” Smith shares. “We had to be flexible, adapt to military conditions, and keep safety as a top priority.”
The result’s a movie that feels as quick because it does intimate.
From Tribeca to Global Screens
Soldiers of Song premiered on the Tribeca Film Festival in 2024 to highly effective viewers reactions.
“Viewers have been deeply moved by the personal stories and the broader narrative of resilience, which affirmed the emotional depth we aimed to capture.”
The movie is now streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, with extra screenings persevering with at theaters, universities, and group occasions throughout Europe and the U.S.
A Mirror to the Moment
A Mirror to the Moment“The film serves as a reminder of the realities Ukrainians continue to face… highlighting the resilience of its people and their unwavering commitment to defending their culture, history, and sovereignty.”
From the devastating Mariupol theater bombing to the on a regular basis heroism of scholars and troopers, Soldiers of Song captures a nation’s spirit within the face of darkness.
What Comes Next
Smith is already at work on his subsequent undertaking, which follows LA avenue artists as they journey to Ukraine, utilizing murals to deliver therapeutic and coloration to communities devastated by struggle.
“I want to continue telling stories that reflect the healing power of art and community,” he says.
Connect with Soldiers of Song
🔗 Official Website: soldiersofsongfilm.com 📸 Instagram: @soldiersofsongfilm 👍 Facebook: Soldiers of Song Film 🎵 TikTok: @soldiersofsongfilm
About the Director
About the DirectorRyan Smith is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker recognized for his human-centered, emotionally charged documentaries. His 2022 movie, NFL 360: Who If Not Us, spotlighted Ukrainian soccer players-turned-soldiers, establishing his voice as one deeply dedicated to telling tales of sacrifice, tradition, and survival.
🎥 IMDb: Ryan Smith
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“Ultimately, the goal was to tell a story that not only informs but also honors the resilience, humanity, and hope of those affected by the war.” — Ryan Smith
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