‘The Sky was on Fire’ documentary about war in Ukraine produced by Bucks County man

A new documentary produced by a Bucks County businessman is giving us a never-before-seen look at the war in Ukraine.

The film exposes Russia’s attempts to erase Ukrainian culture through the eyes of ballerinas, who made a tough choice to pick up arms and fight for their freedom.

“The Sky was on Fire” gives a new perspective into the pain and heartbreak of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The film follows ballet dancers as they trade their pointe shoes for firearms to defend their nation.

“The thing that most surprised me and stands out to me to this day was their resilience in the face of what seemed like unconquerable odds,” said the film’s executive producer Alfred Hagen.

Bucks County businessman Alfred Hagen funded the project.

“I understood from my visits that part of the Russian strategy was to eradicate Ukrainian culture,” said Hagen.

Hagen has seen the carnage in Ukraine firsthand, having delivered medical supplies and volunteered on the front lines.

That’s where he met people like Oleh Tokar.

“Ballet is my inner armor against the destruction of our country,” said Tokar in his native language.

Tokar is living a double life.

He’s a stage director in Kyiv by day and a defense forces unit commander by night.

“The war in Ukraine isn’t just a war over land, it’s a war for our right to exist,” said Tokar.

Speaking to Action News from Ukraine, he calls the war a cultural genocide against his nation.

“For me, ballet isn’t just a profession, it’s the language of my identity,” said Tokar.

Russia has targeted historic cultural sights all across Ukraine: from schools, to churches and museums.

So artists went from theaters to the frontlines to defend their freedom.

The film’s producers hope to make the documentary available on streaming in the near future.