**Mature Student Completes First Film Project: A Magical Feeling**
A mature student from Swindon, Alexander Hutchings, 49, has completed his first film project, which combines fantasy fiction with an interpretation of the war in Ukraine. The film, titled Pralis, features an all-Ukrainian cast of four and explores themes of resilience, uncertainty, and obedience.
Hutchings’ inspiration for the project came from his classmate Ihor Kuraliesin’s experience in Ukraine. He decided to feature an all-Ukrainian cast of four, including Tetiana Tymofeienko, 30, Angelina Kosenko, 26, and Daniella Michel, 23. The fantasy film questions whether a character would take certain actions if they could see the whole story, drawing parallels with a fictional soldier fighting for Russia.
**A Personal Connection to Ukraine**
Daniella Michel, one of the cast members, came up with the script, weaving in her own experiences and emotions from being in Ukraine during the war. She wrote about the feelings of being forgotten, robbed, raped, and everything Ukrainians have been through. Michel said that writing the script made her stronger and gave her a chance to raise her voice on the invasion.
**A Unique Production Experience**
The film was shot over five days in a forest in Wiltshire, with Hutchings serving as producer, director, camera person, and editor. The cast had creative freedom to choose their own costumes, which were designed to be authentically symbolic of Ukraine. Despite being new to acting, the cast members channeled real emotions into their performances, driven by the horror of war.
**A New Chapter for Hutchings**
Hutchings spent about four weeks on post-production and has now uploaded the film to YouTube. He hopes to continue the narrative with more short films and use the project to help and inspire others. This is a remarkable achievement for a mature student, and it’s clear that Hutchings’ passion and dedication have paid off.
Read More @ www.bbc.com
