Courage means choosing action even when fear lingers. This idea shines through the Ukrainian disaster story told in a documentary by Evgueni Afineevski, released in 2022, which chronicles Ukraine’s fight for freedom. Nearly two hours of footage condense a mosaic of stories from a nation suddenly invaded by a far larger foe, a clash that tested resilience, resolve, and unity. It highlights the courage of ordinary people and the crucial moments of resistance, from a survivor of the Bucha massacre who hurls Molotov cocktails to defend comrades, to civilians who helped shield others as tanks rolled through the landscape and the grim task of burying the dead persisted. It also follows the brave couple Anna Zaitseva and her husband as they faced a city under siege, with a newborn child in tow, and a community trapped inside the Mariupol Azovstal steelworks as evacuation became a lingering hope.
Afineevski is a director born in Russia who has emigrated to the United States, and his voice has often pointed to the upheavals in Slavic regions in recent years. In 2015 he explored similar tensions in a feature that earned an Oscar nomination, drawing a parallel between Ukraine’s 2014 Revolution of Dignity and the broader struggle against corruption and authoritarianism associated with Viktor Yanukovych. The film era described a government that reneged on election promises, resisted signing an association agreement with the EU, and seemingly leaned toward Moscow, sparking a pivotal moment for the country and its people.
US-Ukraine parallel
The filmmaker’s choice to revisit Ukraine during the early days of occupation stems from a perception that the same dynamics had echoed across borders. The winter 2014-2015 street confrontations in Kyiv had chilling echoes in North American cities, suggesting a shared pattern of interference aimed at sowing chaos, polarizing societies, and creating rifts. The documentary notes the presence of provocateurs among protest groups and draws a pointed comparison to disruptive elements seen in other lands, arguing that those forces worked to inflame tensions rather than heal them.
During a public presentation, the filmmaker voiced concern about shifting political tides and the possibility of dramatic events before an upcoming electoral moment. In a moment of quiet candor, he reflected on the potential for new developments to reshape how the world views Ukraine and its allies amid changing political currents.
The documentary includes rare archival footage from the siege at Azovstal and interviews with key figures, including a photographer who covered the Azov battalion and families affected by the fighting. It depicts moments of gravity and perseverance, including people distributing toys to children and families seeking shelter in dense metro tunnels. The film showcases scenes where civilians stand up to armored forces in a bid to slow aggression, underscoring the human costs of conflict even as the screen captures moments of hope and resilience. In 2023 the film was remastered and shown at the capital’s cultural venues, reflecting a renewed interest in Ukraine’s recent history. It stood out at major festivals, earning recognition for its score of courageous acts and the enduring spirit of a nation under siege.