A Haunting Silence is Broken: Diving into the Heart of War, "20 Days in Mariupol".
The Oscar-nominated documentary "20 Days in Mariupol" is being screened across Europe. A powerful testament to the brutality of the war that has shaken the continent for two years.
The chilling words "It hurts to see that. And it must hurt", introduce Mstyslav Chernov's documentary "20 Days in Mariupol".
In February 2022, just before the brutal Russian bombardment of Mariupol began, Chernov, an Associated Press journalist, arrived with photographer Evgeniy Maloletka and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko. They witnessed the devastating siege of the city at first hand, capturing over 30 hours of harrowing footage.
From the bombed-out maternity hospital and mass graves to the tragic death of a four-year-old girl, Chernov and his team stayed for 20 days, becoming some of the last international journalists to leave. With 30-40 minutes of material sent to the AP every day, they also preserved 30 hours of raw footage.
"We needed to do more," said Chernov, and the idea for the film was born.
"20 Days in Mariupol doesn't just show the horrors of war, it includes Chernov's personal journey in the narrative. Producer Michelle Mizner crafts a film that delves into the realities on the ground while revealing the emotional toll on the reporting team. Chernov's calm voice guides us through the unfolding apocalypse, reminding us:
"Someone once said that wars don't begin with explosions - they begin with silence.”
That silence is shattered at the start of the film, as the deceptive calm of Mariupol explodes into a cacophony of alarms, rockets and explosions.
This is the director's cut, an unflinching look at Chernov's unedited video reports for Western news agencies.
We see shattered bodies, grieving relatives and the unbearable pain of war. Chernov and Maloletka become channels for the city's despair. Some survivors, overwhelmed by their losses, demand privacy, while others beg the world to witness their suffering.
The film plunges us into the heart of Mariupol's destruction. Handheld close-ups capture individual tragedies, juxtaposed with the chilling distance of aerial drone footage of the city's devastation.
The footage of Emergency Hospital No. 2 is particularly moving. As doctors fight for their lives under constant threat, Chernov reads out the names of the dead:
"Yevangelina, four years old. Ilya, 16 years old. Kyryl, 18 years old."
A doctor's desperate plea echoes through the film: "It's good that you're filming! Civilians are dying here!"
Nominated for an Oscar in 2024, 20 Days in Mariupol continues to be screened across North America and Europe. It has twice been shown in Berlin, reminding us of the human cost of war and the power of journalism to shine a light on the darkest moments.
20daysinmariupol.com (with screening dates)
In Germany, the film is online on the ARD Mediathek
and available until 19.05.2024.
