Award-winning actor Sean Penn has been confirmed as part of the cast for the Ukrainian war movie “War Through the Eyes of Animals.” The film, described as a nine-part anthology, will be directed by nine Ukrainian filmmakers and aims to portray the story of the war in Ukraine from the unique perspectives of animals caught up in the conflict.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Penn will be featured in the ninth and final segment, directed by Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi. In this segment, Penn will portray an American sound engineer who unintentionally becomes a witness to the outbreak of war when Russian forces invade on February 24, 2022.
Expressing his excitement about collaborating with Penn, Slaboshpytskyi said, “I am absolutely thrilled to be a part of this film. It is a great honor for me to collaborate with the incredible actor and outstanding person, and one of Ukraine’s greatest friends, Sean Penn.”
The director also acknowledged Penn’s involvement in documenting the war and Ukraine in his previous work. Slaboshpytskyi emphasized Penn’s support as invaluable and deeply meaningful for the project.
The shooting of Penn’s segment is set to take place in Ukraine and Los Angeles during the summer of 2023. The film is being produced by Ukrainian production outfits SOTA Cinema Group and Kleos Art, with Oleg Kokhan and Oleksiy Makukhin serving as producers.
Kokhan emphasized the importance of having artists like Sean Penn involved in the project, stating, “All the stories in our film anthology are based on real events, and it is crucial for us that artists of Sean Penn’s caliber not only acknowledge the terrifying reality we depict but also contribute their voices.”
Penn, known for his dedication to social and political causes, has actively supported various humanitarian efforts throughout his career. His involvement in “War Through the Eyes of Animals” further highlights his commitment to shedding light on important issues through his work.
As the production progresses, anticipation grows for the release of this unique war movie that aims to offer a fresh perspective on the Ukrainian conflict.
