THE FILM
TITLE: 20 Days In Mariupol
RELEASE DATE: 20 Jan 2023
WATCH DATE: 24 Feb 2024
TYPE: documentary feature film (English, Russian, Ukrainian)
ACCESS: streaming for free on YouTube (published by FRONTLINE PBS)
WARNING: EXTREME SCENES OF DEATH AND VIOLENCE
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: Mstyslav Chernov
PRODUCER: Raney Aronson-Rath, Michelle Mizner, Mstyslav Chernov, Derl Mccrudden
WRITER: Mstyslav Chernov
ACTORS: NA
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 1h 35m
STORYLINE: when all other press leaves Mariupol, Ukraine during Russia’s invasion, a small team of filmmakers stays to document the unspeakable horrors that unfold in the desolate city for the rest of the world to see
GENRE/THEMES: war, death, tragedy, world events, military conflict, innocence
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THE CRITIQUE
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This would make the Grim Reaper weep.
“Film this.” A doctor’s demand to Mstyslav Chernov to keep filming the horrors unfolding in Mariupol, Ukraine. A child is dead because Russians are shelling innocent civilians in the city. There is nothing the doctor and nurses can do for this child… and this is just one of thousands of people whose lives have been snuffed out by the Russian invasion.
When all other press has left Mariupol, a small team of filmmakers - including Mstyslav Chernov - stay behind to document the unspeakable horrors occurring in the abandoned. Someone must record these events for the world, and Chernov risks his life to do so for his people. The horrors of civilian casualties and overwhelming death… this is real. This really happened.
20 Days in Mariupol is staggeringly harrowing, and leaves you heavy-hearted. There are images burned into my memory. This documentary left me sobbing in my kitchen... I couldn't even watch some scenes, turning away or skipping whole sections... it too much to bear...
The footage isn't meant for my eyes anyway - is really meant for Putin and the Russians to see... but Russian officials have seen it, and called it "staged" and "fake". Mass trench graves... the lost stories of all the people we'll never know... buried under another nation's desire for power. This is humanity at it very worst. And the war still goes on. The documentary presents the following data at the end: “Mariupol fell by day 86. An estimated 25,000 people died in the siege. The true toll is likely much higher.” Now, at Day #745, the numbers have skyrocketed and are too much to keep track, much less comprehend.
The bravery to stay in a dying city for the sake of telling its story deserves every award. Chernov succeeded in keeping the truth alive. I was surprised at the high-quality footage he captured, despite the circumstances. His narration of the unbelievable events sounds like what I imagine Death to sound like - heavy, energy spent with nothing left, with the crushing weight of seeing so much death through his lens.
From a purely filmmaking perspective... it would be a strong decision to include a better context of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. We are dropped right into Mariupol on Day #1 of Chernov’s 20 days, so possibly an introduction to the war and what led to the events of the documentary. We see everything through Chernov’s eyes though, and it places you right there with the Ukrainians. I didn’t even bother watching the other nominees for Documentary Feature Film. To have produced such an incredible film while risking life is the greatest feat of filmmaking. An Oscar winning film without question.
To learn more about the Ukraine-Russia War…
Troop Deaths and Injuries in Ukraine War Near 500,000, U.S. Officials Say (The New York Times, Aug 18, 2023)
Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia (BBC, Feb 21, 2024)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 745 (Aljazeera, Mar 09, 2024)
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: harrowing
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: real-world tragedy in front of my eyes
REWATCH: … hesitantly, yes…
RATING: 4.5 // 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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