Last week, the film ‘Russians at War’ premiered at the 81st Venice film festival in the category of ‘Out of Competition’. It portrays young Russian soldiers, often struggling to understand what they are fighting for. While being marketed by the filmmakers as an anti-war documentary, critics say that the film’s attempts to ‘humanize’ Russian soldiers whitewashes Russian war crimes. Ukrainian film producer Darya Bassel is one of them. Below is the commentary she wrote last week, right after having seen the film in Venice.
Still from the documentary Russians at War. Photo: website Anastasia Trofimova.
By Darya Bassel
Since our film [Songs of Slow Burning Earth, produced by Bassel and directed by Olha Zhurba, red.] is in the same section as this one, I usually wouldn’t speak publicly about it. However, in this case, I cannot remain silent, because it’s not just about films and art, but about the lives of thousands of people who die in this war - a war that has instrumentalized propaganda as its weapon.
This film may mislead you into believing that it is an anti-war film, one that questions the current regime in Russia. However, what I witnessed is a prime example of pure Russian propaganda. Here’s why.
The filmmaker begins by expressing her surprise at the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In her film, she always uses the term ‘invasion’ and never ‘full-scale invasion.’ She does not mention that Russia invaded Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014. These two events seem to not exist in the world of this film. The filmmaker also states that her country hasn’t participated in wars for many years and that she has only read about wars in books. Thus, the war in 2022 was a complete shock for her. It’s interesting how the filmmaker could overlook the fact that her country has been inherently involved in various wars and occupations for at least the last 30 years (1992-93 Transnistria, Abkhazian War, 1994-96 and 1999-2009 Chechen Wars, the 2008 war in Georgia, and the 2015-2022 invasion of Syria).
The filmmaker starts her narrative with a Ukrainian who now lives in Russia and fights on the Russian side. This is a very intriguing choice for the beginning of a story about Russians at war. Later, this character will claim that a CIVIL war began in Ukraine in 2014. He will also suggest that Ukrainians bombed the eastern parts of their own country (and this is why he moved to Russia). Another character will declare that Ukrainians are Nazis. We’ve heard these narratives before; they are (and apparently still are) widely and actively propagated by Russian media. One of those horns of propaganda is the channel Russia Today [now known as RT, red.] , for which the director of ‘Russians at War’ has previously made several documentary films.
Anastasia Trofimova
Russian-Canadian film-maker Anastasia Trofimova was born in Moscow. She studied in Toronto and Amsterdam. Previously, she has worked as a producer and translator for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CBC and Russia Today. She is best known for her work in Iraq, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she made films that address conflict, social inequality and injustice.
Anastasia Trofimova. Still from the documentary Russians at War. Photo: website Anastasia Trofimova.
Throughout the film, all characters express their confusion about their actions in Ukraine, stating they want the war to end and that most of them are fighting for money. In the final part of the film, the battalion is moved to Bakhmut, and most characters die in battle. We then see their comrades and relatives grieving at their graves. All of them repeat that they don’t understand why this war is happening and who needs it. In the end, the filmmaker concludes that these are poor, ordinary Russian people who are being manipulated into war by larger political games.
To the filmmaker, these soldiers are merely powerless objects
I found this perspective amusing because the filmmaker - like Putin and his regime - plays an interesting game with these people. Both deny them the simple ability to possess dignity and to think and decide for themselves. To her, these people are merely powerless objects. If those engaged in a war that has lasted over 10 years were not powerless, it would imply that they, in the majority, actually support this war, wouldn’t it?
You will feel pity for the people dying in the film and for those we see crying for their loved ones. And you should - if you are a normal human being, you should feel pity, sadness, and emotion. However, it is also important to remember that these individuals joined the army that invaded an independent country, many of them willingly, as we learn from the film. You should also recall Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and the civilians who were murdered there. Remember the thousands of children who were illegally transported from Ukraine to Russia. While I’m writing this and while you’re reading it, missiles are striking Ukrainian cities. The buttons are pushed by ordinary Russians. Are their crimes any less significant simply because they claim to be unaware of why they are involved in this war?
Filming on the Russian side of the frontline
Anastasia Trofimova lived in with Russian soldiers for seven months, as they made their way across the frontlines in the east of Ukraine. She maintains that she earned their trust without any official clearance or permits. According to Trofimova, she convinced commanders on the spot to allow her to follow their battalion. Russia has largely prohibited independent journalists from accessing the frontlines. Non-soldiers are only occasionally allowed to join tightly controlled press tours. However, according to Meduza’s military analysts, the presence of trusted reporters from media outlets subject to Russian censorship is not uncommon. For journalists with a track record of working in state media, such as Trofimova’s experiecne at RT, it is possible to gain access with the permission of the relevant military commander.
By the way, the director asks one of the characters if he thinks the Russian army commits any war crimes. He answers ‘no,’ claiming he hasn’t witnessed any war crimes. Interestingly, the director echoes this in her interviews, stating she saw no signs of war crimes during her time near the front. We can only be happy for her that she was fortunate enough not to witness any war crimes. Unfortunately, thousands of Ukrainians have not been so lucky.
Director Anastasia Trofimova attends the photocall of the movie 'Russians at War' during the 81st International Venice Film Festival , on September 5, 2024. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP/ ANP
I could continue, but I believe it’s enough to understand that this film presents a very distorted picture of reality, spreading false narratives (calling the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea a civil war; suggesting that the Russian army does not commit any war crimes; presenting those who are part of the aggressors army as victims).
The director was fortunate enough not to witness any war crimes. Unfortunately, thousands of Ukrainians have not been so lucky.
If you decide to watch it, I recommend following it with another documentary about Russian soldiers titled ‘Intercepted,’ directed by Oksana Karpovych. ‘Intercepted’ also opens a door into the lives of ordinary Russians fighting in this war. You’ll be curious to explore it, as it will undoubtedly surprise you. You may also want to add ‘20 Days in Mariupol’ to your viewing list, just to be able ‘to see through the fog of war,’ as the director of ‘Russians at War’ so aptly put it.
As a post scriptum I will add a link to the webpage of the human rights organisation Centre for Civil Liberties (Nobel Prize winner). At this page you’ll find a lot of information on the topic of prisoners of war, civilian hostages and political prisoners. Centre for Civil Liberties has collected stories of people who are experiencing torture, ill-treatment, lack of medical care, hunger, and information isolation. I hope you read it.
Darya Bassel (1985) is an internationally known and successful Ukrainian film producer who also works as the head of industry of Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (Kyiv). The film Songs of Slow Burning Earth, produced by Bassel and directed by Olha Zhurba, also premiered at Venice. Bassel has been a jury member at international festivals in Switzerland, Georgia, the Netherlands and Romania.
