Ukrainian rebuilds life in Cannes away from festival spotlight

Lesia Bilotserkovets’ father objected to the size of her bag, which was packed with winter clothing, as she and her family evacuated Kyiv by automobile at the commencement of the Ukrainian war.

The 24-year-old had no idea she’d end herself on the French Riviera in Cannes.

‘Papa, I don’t know where I’m going, and I don’t know how long I’ll be gone,’ Bilotserkovets explained.

She’s settled into a new position at a hotel in Cannes, which rolled out the red carpet for celebrities for its annual film festival this month.

She was offered a place to stay by a French family she had assisted in Ukraine as an interpreter.

The Ukraine conflict has loomed big over the festival; official Russian delegations were barred, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke at the opening ceremony, and cultural boycotts have been a recurring subject.

The festival’s glitz is a world away from what Bilotserkovets left behind.

She described herself as being in a parallel reality. She also stated that she does not share about her life in France on social media out of respect for people who are going through difficult times.