Documentary 'Russians at war' ignites fierce debate at Venice premiere

The latest documentary by Anastasia Trofimova, "Russians at War," faced sharp criticism after its premiere at the Venice Film Festival. Accusations emerged that the film, which tells the story of Russian soldiers fighting near the Ukrainian front, whitewashes Russian war criminals and distorts the reality of the conflict that has been ongoing since February 2022. The director responded.

Anastasia Trofimova, a Russian-Canadian director, spent seven months with a Russian military battalion in eastern Ukraine, where she documented the soldiers' daily lives. The material she prepared aimed to showcase the personal motivations of young people who decided to join the invasion of Ukraine, portraying them not only as fighters but also as individuals grappling with internal dilemmas.

One recurring theme in the documentation is the soldiers' confusion about the purpose of the conflict.

Everything here is so confusing, I don't even know what we are fighting for, - says one of the soldiers in the film.

It was precisely the lack of detailed portrayal of military actions and the consequences of the Russian invasion that elicited a sharp reaction from critics. They claim that Trofimova’s film does not provide an accurate depiction of what is happening in Ukraine, omitting the massive scale of destruction and suffering brought about by the Russian aggression.

At a press conference in Venice, Trofimova, when asked about war crimes, responded that the soldiers she spent seven months with were "ordinary people" and added that she had not witnessed any crimes during her stay.

I understand that there are many reports of war crimes, and indeed, I think that in the Western media, Russian soldiers are now exclusively associated with them because there were no other stories. This is a different story, and this was the reality they were experiencing, - responded the director.

The director's words and the documentary itself sparked immediate opposition from the Ukrainian artistic community.

Ukrainian producer, Darya Bassel, whose documentary depicting Ukraine's suffering titled "Songs of slow burning earth" also premiered in Venice, sharply criticized the decision to showcase Trofimova's film. Bassel described it as a "distorted image of reality that spreads false narratives".

We can only be happy for her [Trofimova] that she was fortunate not to witness any war crimes. Unfortunately, thousands of Ukrainians were not so lucky, - wrote Bassel in a Facebook post after watching the film.

The controversies surrounding Trofimova’s documentary fuelled the debate on the ethics of filmmaking in Russia and its occupied territories. While in Ukraine, foreign reporters can travel relatively freely to the front, in Russia, access to independent journalists is strictly limited, and selected individuals can only participate in organized and controlled press visits, - reports The Guardian.

Trofimova defended her decision to make the film, emphasizing that the film lacked the human face of those participating in the war.

The perspective of Russian soldiers is rarely heard, and I think it is important to see people through the fog of war: to see the tragedy it brings, and to see people as people, beyond the political black-and-white narratives and war propaganda, - argued the director.

Ukrainian critics, including Bassel, hold a completely different view. They argue that the documentary does not convey the responsibility of Russian soldiers for their actions. They point out that the film portrays them more as victims, ignoring the fact that they are active participants in the aggression against an independent state.

It is important to remember that these people joined an army that invaded an independent country, many of them voluntarily. Are their crimes any less significant just because they claim they don't know why they are part of this war? - asked Bassel.

"Russians at war" sparked a wide-ranging discussion where different viewpoints clash on how to document war and portray its participants. Trofimova’s film, although presenting a personal perspective, remains controversial as – according to many – it omits crucial elements of the tragedy unfolding on Ukrainian soil.