Ukrainian-American storyteller Masha Martynenko Ellsworth’s new short film, “Bound,” is a fresh retelling of a well-known Ukrainian folk song, “Nese Halia Vodu” (“Galya Carries Water”).

The Alameda-based independent filmmaker and lead technical director at Pixar Animation Studios presents a pebble-size animated film in less than four minutes, behind which is an avalanche of Ukraine’s rich history and cultural traditions.

The song’s lyrics tell of young love between Gayla and Ivanko, a farm boy prone to passionate gestures. Universal themes include heartache, rapture, relationships and the fragility of human connections.

“Bound” had a six-day run at San Francisco’s Little Roxie Theater in late July and has been picked up by multiple film festivals. Recently, the simple narrative — told i

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