Espreso. Global

Venice Film Festival features propaganda film Russians at War, shot in occupied Ukraine

6 September, 2024 Friday
12:56

The Venice Film Festival's non-competition lineup continues with the screening of the documentary Russians at War by Anastasia Trofimova, who aims to portray Russian soldiers not as "beasts," but as "ordinary people"

client/title.list_title

The Venice Film Festival website reported the information.

On September 5, the out-of-competition program of the 81st Venice International Film Festival screened a propaganda film by Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova, Russians at War. The film, co-produced by Canada and France, according to the description, tells the stories of Russian soldiers that will provide "a deeper understanding" of the war. Three screenings will also take place on September 6, and later the film will be shown at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Russian director, who emigrated to Canada, joined a battalion of the Russian army in Ukraine. Trofimova "earns the trust of foot soldiers and embeds herself over the span of a year with one battalion as it makes its way across Eastern Ukraine.”

“What she discovers is far from the propaganda and labels pushed by the East or the West: an army in disarray, soldiers disillusioned and often struggling to understand what they are fighting for,” the film festival's official website says.

Trofimova says that she focused her attention "on those most of the world had not seen before—Russian soldiers.”

“My hope is that their stories add to a deeper understanding of this senseless and traumatic war,” she emphasized.

In an interview with the Russian propaganda outlet People of Lake Baikal, Trofimova explains why she decided to make the film.

"In the Russian media, soldiers are heroes, faceless mannequins. In the Western media, they are all rapists and murderers. But how can you describe a person without ever talking to them?" the director clarified.

Trofimova said that Russians at War is not a historical analysis of the causes of the war, but "a real testimony of a previously invisible side." She refers to the "invisible side" as Russian soldiers. Most of the film was shot in the occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Trofimova's goal is to show the world that Russian soldiers are not beasts, as they are portrayed by Ukrainian and Western media, but "ordinary people in an extraordinary situation.”

"I didn't know what to expect from the Russian military. And I was most impressed by the fact that they are ordinary people. Absolutely ordinary people in an absolutely extraordinary situation. I was surprised that we could argue about some political issues - whether the Russians are committing war crimes, for example," she said in an interview with the Russian outlet.

She also expressed admiration that the Russian criminal army "remains human.”

"I was amazed at how much they endure what is happening to them. Physical deprivation, despair, and death are all around. But despite this, people are trying to hold on and remain human," Trofimova said.

The director, whose film is being promoted at a prestigious international film festival, admitted that she had not seen 20 Days in Mariupol because she "didn't have time," but that it broadcasts propaganda narratives about protecting Donbas residents.

"Ukrainians from Donbas who are fighting in the ranks of the Russian army have a very clear, motivated position. Much more so than the Russians. That I am defending my home, my home was bombed, so many of my relatives or friends were killed. And Russians have a different vision. There are guys who go to war because the country calls them. That's it, nothing else matters. There are those who believe that they came to defend Russia from NATO expansion. There are those who don't quite understand what they are doing there and how right it is, and there are many mobilized people," she emphasized.

Trofimova said that she was for peace, and people who support either side were for war. She decided to show the Russian military as human beings, because this is the only way to end the war.

"Journalists are usually accused of humanizing Russians. But I don't really understand what needs to be humanized. So that the 'Radio of the Thousand Hills' (a radio station whose hosts called for the genocide of Rwandans in the 1990s) can happen again? All this leads to an ongoing war and even worse consequences. It seems to me that you cannot choose a side now. If you choose a side, you are for war. You are for war either on this side or on that side. And I am for peace. And I would like us to see each other as people," the director added.

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2024, Tuesday
15 October
21:20
Up to 90% of Ukrainian POWs in Russia were tortured or sexually abused
21:04
Hans Zimmer, composer of Pirates of the Caribbean and Dune, supports Ukraine at U.S. concert
20:50
Ukrainian forces target over 10,000 Russian artillery systems in 2024 worth $8bn
20:33
Exclusive
Russia-DPRK agreement is, in fact, strategic military alliance - Defense Express
20:18
Review
Research reveals network of Canadian websites disseminating pro-Kremlin narratives
20:00
Exclusive
North Korea will help Russia, Ukrainian army will have to destroy large number of manpower - military
19:42
Exclusive
Story is far from over: sociologist Shulga on Kadyrov's ‘blood revenge’
19:25
US pressures Zelenskyy to lower mobilization age, adviser says
19:04
Expensive and embarrassing failure: British intelligence analyses effectiveness of Russian 'Hunter' drone
18:40
Group of North Korean soldiers escape from Russian positions near Ukraine border
18:15
Netherlands proposes to temporarily exclude Hungary from Schengen
17:54
Exclusive
Russian offensive is losing momentum, operational pause inevitable – Ukrainian officer
17:23
80% Ukrainians support law banning Russia-linked religious groups - survey
16:54
Ukraine and Mauritius sign agreement to establish visa-free travel
16:34
OPINION
Georgia: Putin's vendetta to begin in October
16:15
Spanish police seize 13 tons of banned chemicals bound for Russia
15:52
Why would North Korea send military officers to Ukraine to support Russia?
15:20
War is brewing between the Koreas: Defense Express explains why the DPRK-Russia alliance is key
14:59
Russia reportedly forms “special Buryat battalion” with DPRK citizens
14:41
Russia's weekly war spending exceeds annual budgets of 80% of its regions
14:16
Rostelecom warns of possible Google services shutdown in Russia
13:57
Exclusive
Russia's war of attrition isn't going as planned – military expert Zgurets
13:44
Exclusive
From Romanian border to Zaporizhzhia front line: American couple hosts charity race to support Ukrainians
13:23
Exclusive
Russia is pulling more nations into abyss of war – military expert Seleznyov
12:59
EU discusses possibility to keep Russian gas transit through Ukraine
12:45
Russia launches Shahed, missile attacks on Ukraine, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries in Mykolaiv
12:30
Nearly 200 clashes in one day at Russian-Ukrainian, most focused on Kurakhove
11:59
OPINION
Why does Putin need North Korean soldiers?
11:26
“To push for negotiations": ISW names purpose of Russian strikes on Ukraine's port infrastructure
11:09
Exclusive
Large numbers of Russian military surrender due to low morale
10:39
Exclusive
Russian troops attempting to advance toward southern Pokrovsk - NGU reserve major
10:18
Russian Orthodox Church justifies war in Ukraine as "treatment"
09:56
Exclusive
Ukraine holds off Russian troops despite reinforcements in Luhansk region — Military Administration Chief
09:36
Russia loses 1,210 soldiers, 13 tanks and 44 armored vehicles in one day of war in Ukraine
2024, Monday
14 October
21:35
No intact houses, shelters left in Toretsk, Russian forces move into new areas
21:15
North Korea has joined Russia's war on Ukraine, Zelenskyy states
20:50
Exclusive
Ukrainian military: Russia usually deploys regiments in Kurakhove sector
20:25
Ukraine calls on Brazil to arrest Putin if he attends G20 summit 
20:02
Exclusive
Defense Express assesses threat of North Korean soldiers reinforcing Russian army
19:40
Zelenskyy to present victory plan to Verkhovna Rada on October 16 — official
More news