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20 Days in Mariupol

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20 Days in Mariupol

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20 Days in Mariupol

Name: 20 Days in Mariupol
Director: Mstyslav Chernov
Genre: Documentary, War
Released: 2023
Duration: 1 h 34 min
Cast: Mstyslav Chernov, Evgeniy Maloletka

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Documentary
War

2023
Mstyslav Chernov
94 mins
18

Summary

Documentary. In February 2022, Russian forces began mounting an invasion of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Reporter and film-maker Mstyslav Chernov captures the first three weeks of this bombardment and reflects on the historical role played by such footage.

IMDB

Review

A star rating of 5 out of 5.

Calum Baker

The beginning of Russia's 2022 assault on Ukraine is captured in unflinching detail in this harrowing and vital documentary. Associated Press journalist Mstyslav Chernov was in the port city of Mariupol for the invasion's opening salvo, and he determinedly filmed the following 20 days of bombardment before being forced to flee for his own safety. Chernov accompanies his edited footage with voiceover narration that gives context to the imagery while poignantly reflecting on his duties as a reporter. The film works as a statement on the necessity of recording such atrocities, both for historical posterity and to raise awareness in the present, but the specific events being shown are compelling on their own terms. Chernov talks to bereaved and displaced citizens, giving voice directly to those under assault. More dramatically, he shows us, virtually in real time, the beginnings of social collapse as impending food scarcity leads swiftly to looting and squabbling. This is undoubtedly hard-going viewing, not least in its images of maimed children, stacked corpses and a bombed maternity hospital. But it's a pacey and immersive feat of first-hand reportage that uses its humble cinematic tools to remarkable effect.

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8.6/10