What it’s About
At the outset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine intercepted calls between Russian soldiers and their loved ones back home. Sobering excerpts from these calls are juxtaposed against various scenes of devastation, evoking the utter waste and despair wrought by Putin’s unprovoked war.
Why we love it
Director Karpov puts an unnerving human face on the atrocities of this needless conflict. Russian recruits calling home are by turns defiant, desperate and simply numb, many not understanding why they’re there, what the mission is, or why they must kill innocent civilians. Still, some of the most revealing moments happen as parents or spouses back in Russia parrot Putin’s propaganda, referring to their Ukrainian neighbors with contempt as “khokhols”. As far as they’re concerned, they’re only getting what they deserve. You’ll want to intercept this timely and important film.