Filmed as Russia invaded Ukraine’s port city, Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary is gruelling, compelling and vital
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Mstyslav Chernov’s horrifying eyewitness documentary 20 Days in Mariupol is about Vladimir Putin’s brutal siege of the Ukrainian port city, from February to May 2022, resulting in more than 20,000 deaths. It is effectively the director’s cut: the gruelling unexpurgated text of this Associated Press journalist’s original video reports from within the city for western news outlets. They were, even in their packaged version, gruellingly tough – and Chernov’s images of mass graves did a very great deal, even in edited form, to galvanise western opinion and to subdue dissenting thoughts that supporting Zelenskiy wasn’t worth it and that Nato had provoked the Russians.
But the full material is wrenching: this film is really a broadcast from hell on earth.
More on the best films of 2023More on the best culture of 2023
Mstyslav Chernov’s horrifying eyewitness documentary 20 Days in Mariupol is about Vladimir Putin’s brutal siege of the Ukrainian port city, from February to May 2022, resulting in more than 20,000 deaths. It is effectively the director’s cut: the gruelling unexpurgated text of this Associated Press journalist’s original video reports from within the city for western news outlets. They were, even in their packaged version, gruellingly tough – and Chernov’s images of mass graves did a very great deal, even in edited form, to galvanise western opinion and to subdue dissenting thoughts that supporting Zelenskiy wasn’t worth it and that Nato had provoked the Russians.
But the full material is wrenching: this film is really a broadcast from hell on earth.
- 12/19/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Ukraine has picked Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary 20 Days in Mariupol as its submission for the best international feature category at the 2024 Oscars.
Associated Press journalist and native Ukrainian Chernov and his colleague, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, document the destruction of the port city under Russian bombardment in early 2022. 20 Days in Mariupol is a first-person account of the 20 days they spent recording the atrocities they witnessed, including Russian troops targeting civilians, including children and the elderly, and the bombing of a maternity hospital.
The Hollywood Reporter, in its review of the film, called it “grueling but necessary viewing.”
The documentary, Chernov’s directorial debut, was co-presented by AP and PBS’ Frontline and had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema documentary prize.
Chernov and Maloletka, along with colleagues Vasilisa Stepanenko and Lori Hinnant, also won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service this year for their reporting in Mariupol.
Associated Press journalist and native Ukrainian Chernov and his colleague, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, document the destruction of the port city under Russian bombardment in early 2022. 20 Days in Mariupol is a first-person account of the 20 days they spent recording the atrocities they witnessed, including Russian troops targeting civilians, including children and the elderly, and the bombing of a maternity hospital.
The Hollywood Reporter, in its review of the film, called it “grueling but necessary viewing.”
The documentary, Chernov’s directorial debut, was co-presented by AP and PBS’ Frontline and had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema documentary prize.
Chernov and Maloletka, along with colleagues Vasilisa Stepanenko and Lori Hinnant, also won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service this year for their reporting in Mariupol.
- 9/18/2023
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ukraine has selected the Sundance competition title 20 Days In Mariupol, from journalist-turned-filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov, as its entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2024 Oscars.
The film was chosen by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee, headed by Ukrainian film director Valentin Vasyanovych. Alongside 20 Days In Mariupol, shortlisted films included Iron Butterflies by Roman Lyuboy, Pamfir by Dmytro Suholytky-Sobchuk, Terikony by Taras Tomenkom, and Shttl by Adrien Walter.
At Sundance, 20 Days In Mariupol was awarded the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. Since then, the doc has picked up a series of prizes across the festival circuit, including Sheffield DocFest’s Tim Hetherington Award, Best Film at DocuDays, Best Director at DocEdge, and filmmakers Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Lori Hinnant won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service reporting for their work in Mariupol.
A native Ukrainian and Associated Press journalist, 20 Days In Mariupol marks Chernov’s documentary feature debut.
The film was chosen by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee, headed by Ukrainian film director Valentin Vasyanovych. Alongside 20 Days In Mariupol, shortlisted films included Iron Butterflies by Roman Lyuboy, Pamfir by Dmytro Suholytky-Sobchuk, Terikony by Taras Tomenkom, and Shttl by Adrien Walter.
At Sundance, 20 Days In Mariupol was awarded the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. Since then, the doc has picked up a series of prizes across the festival circuit, including Sheffield DocFest’s Tim Hetherington Award, Best Film at DocuDays, Best Director at DocEdge, and filmmakers Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Lori Hinnant won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service reporting for their work in Mariupol.
A native Ukrainian and Associated Press journalist, 20 Days In Mariupol marks Chernov’s documentary feature debut.
- 9/18/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
On the evening of Feb. 23, 2022, a small team of AP correspondents including Mstyslav Chernov headed to Mariupol. They pulled into the Ukrainian port city at 3:30 a.m. Russia invaded Mariupol one hour later.
As the only international reporters in the city, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and his team captured what later became defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, and the bombing of a maternity hospital.
Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Evgeniy Maloletka initially went to Mariupol to capture what they thought would be news segments. But after escaping the city, Chernov knew that he needed to take the harrowing footage he and his team had captured and make a documentary. The result is “20 Days in Mariupol,” a 94-minute film that is both devastating and riveting. Scenes include a mother weeping over the body of her four-year-old, who died from shelling wounds, as well as a...
As the only international reporters in the city, the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and his team captured what later became defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, and the bombing of a maternity hospital.
Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko and Evgeniy Maloletka initially went to Mariupol to capture what they thought would be news segments. But after escaping the city, Chernov knew that he needed to take the harrowing footage he and his team had captured and make a documentary. The result is “20 Days in Mariupol,” a 94-minute film that is both devastating and riveting. Scenes include a mother weeping over the body of her four-year-old, who died from shelling wounds, as well as a...
- 7/14/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
“My brain desperately wants to forget all of this. But the camera will not let it happen.”
The voice on the soundtrack belongs to Mstyslav Chernov, a longtime war correspondent for the Associated Press. He had grown up in Ukraine, in the town of Kharkiv, and was part of a team on assignment in the southern part of the country.
On Feb. 24, 2002, he was filming the aftermath of a first strike against a Ukrainian military base in Mariupol by Russian troops; by the time he uttered those words above, he...
The voice on the soundtrack belongs to Mstyslav Chernov, a longtime war correspondent for the Associated Press. He had grown up in Ukraine, in the town of Kharkiv, and was part of a team on assignment in the southern part of the country.
On Feb. 24, 2002, he was filming the aftermath of a first strike against a Ukrainian military base in Mariupol by Russian troops; by the time he uttered those words above, he...
- 7/13/2023
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: London-based documentary specialist Dogwoof has acquired international sales rights to Mstyslav Chernov’s documentary feature 20 Days in Mariupol following its award-winning bow at Sheffield DocFest.
The doc picked up the Tim Hetherington Award at Sheffield, the latest award it has clinched during its expansive festival run. The film debuted at Sundance, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. A co-production between The Associated Press and Frontline, the doc also won Best Film at DocuDays, Best Director at DocEdge, and filmmakers Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Lori Hinnant won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service reporting for their work on the doc.
A native Ukrainian and Associated Press journalist, 20 Days In Mariupol marks Chernov’s documentary feature debut. The pic offers a first-person account of the 20 days he and his AP colleagues Maloletka and Stepanenko spent documenting Russia’s invasion of Mariupol, Ukraine. The...
The doc picked up the Tim Hetherington Award at Sheffield, the latest award it has clinched during its expansive festival run. The film debuted at Sundance, where it won the Audience Award for World Cinema Documentary. A co-production between The Associated Press and Frontline, the doc also won Best Film at DocuDays, Best Director at DocEdge, and filmmakers Chernov, Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka, and Lori Hinnant won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service reporting for their work on the doc.
A native Ukrainian and Associated Press journalist, 20 Days In Mariupol marks Chernov’s documentary feature debut. The pic offers a first-person account of the 20 days he and his AP colleagues Maloletka and Stepanenko spent documenting Russia’s invasion of Mariupol, Ukraine. The...
- 6/28/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The staff of Los Angeles Times won a Pulitzer Prize on Monday for its stories that uncovered recordings in which City Council members made racist remarks.
The recordings last year set off a furor at City Hall, leading to the resignation of City Council President Nury Martinez and other civic officials.
The Times‘ Christina House also won a Pulitzer for feature photography for images of a pregnant 22-year-old living on the street.
The Times‘ exposé on the City Council members conversation won in the breaking news category, beating two other finalists: Josh Gerstein, Alex Ward, Peter S. Canellos. Hailey Fuchs and Heidi Przybyla of Politico for their bombshell story on the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. The Pulitzer jury moved their entry to breaking news from the national reporting category. The other finalist in the category was the staff of The New York Times for its coverage of...
The recordings last year set off a furor at City Hall, leading to the resignation of City Council President Nury Martinez and other civic officials.
The Times‘ Christina House also won a Pulitzer for feature photography for images of a pregnant 22-year-old living on the street.
The Times‘ exposé on the City Council members conversation won in the breaking news category, beating two other finalists: Josh Gerstein, Alex Ward, Peter S. Canellos. Hailey Fuchs and Heidi Przybyla of Politico for their bombshell story on the leaked draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. The Pulitzer jury moved their entry to breaking news from the national reporting category. The other finalist in the category was the staff of The New York Times for its coverage of...
- 5/8/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s been less than a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, drastically escalating a conflict that had already been in progress for eight years. Yet the constant churn of the news cycle somehow makes that crisis seem older, less urgent — a dulling of concern underlined by some U.S. conservatives’ desire to halt aid, as if we’ve already “done enough” despite all ongoing warfare and related humanitarian exigencies. Offering a refresher in outrage on Ukrainians’ behalf is “20 Days in Mariupol,” a grim, nerve-jangling piece of on-the-ground reportage by a small team of Associated Press correspondents.
Those journos traveled to the port city of the title last February 24, the day Vladimir Putin announced a “Special Military Operation” in “self-defense,” as if Ukraine was attacking Russia rather than the other way round. They assumed this key port, just 30 miles from the enemy border, would be an early objective. That hunch was correct: Within hours,...
Those journos traveled to the port city of the title last February 24, the day Vladimir Putin announced a “Special Military Operation” in “self-defense,” as if Ukraine was attacking Russia rather than the other way round. They assumed this key port, just 30 miles from the enemy border, would be an early objective. That hunch was correct: Within hours,...
- 1/21/2023
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Editor’s note: This review was originally published at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. It will hit limited release at NYC’s Film Forum on Friday, July 14.
The most telling element of “20 Days in Mariupol,” Ukrainian photographer Mystylav Chernov’s pulsating documentary about the first three weeks of a Russian siege that killed tens of thousands of people, is what soldiers make of Chernov and his team. At first the AP camera crew, the last journalists left in Mariupol, are a nuisance. As apartment buildings are evacuated. Chernov is told to “turn the cameras off” by Ukrainian soldiers he politely refers to as “shy.” He replies: “This is a historical war.”
Two and a half weeks later, Chernov, still photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko receive a personal escort from senior Ukrainian officers. So important are their findings — and ensuring that they live to tell the tale — that...
The most telling element of “20 Days in Mariupol,” Ukrainian photographer Mystylav Chernov’s pulsating documentary about the first three weeks of a Russian siege that killed tens of thousands of people, is what soldiers make of Chernov and his team. At first the AP camera crew, the last journalists left in Mariupol, are a nuisance. As apartment buildings are evacuated. Chernov is told to “turn the cameras off” by Ukrainian soldiers he politely refers to as “shy.” He replies: “This is a historical war.”
Two and a half weeks later, Chernov, still photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, and field producer Vasilisa Stepanenko receive a personal escort from senior Ukrainian officers. So important are their findings — and ensuring that they live to tell the tale — that...
- 1/21/2023
- by Adam Solomons
- Indiewire
As 20 Days in Mariupol tragically demonstrates, as long as there are wars, there will be war documentaries.
First-time filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’s effort is a particularly immersive example of the genre, chronicling the weekslong siege of the titular Ukrainian city by Russian forces. Chernov, a journalist for The Associated Press, and his colleague, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, went to the port city in late February 2022, convinced that its strategic location would make it a prime target. They were right, as Russian bombs started hitting the city just hours later. The resulting footage forms the crux of this documentary co-presented by AP and PBS’ Frontline and receiving its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The filmmakers capture the shock and agony of the residents as they suddenly find themselves under bombardment. In the immediate aftermath, not all of them were pleased to see the journalists, some reacting with hostility to their presence.
First-time filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’s effort is a particularly immersive example of the genre, chronicling the weekslong siege of the titular Ukrainian city by Russian forces. Chernov, a journalist for The Associated Press, and his colleague, photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, went to the port city in late February 2022, convinced that its strategic location would make it a prime target. They were right, as Russian bombs started hitting the city just hours later. The resulting footage forms the crux of this documentary co-presented by AP and PBS’ Frontline and receiving its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The filmmakers capture the shock and agony of the residents as they suddenly find themselves under bombardment. In the immediate aftermath, not all of them were pleased to see the journalists, some reacting with hostility to their presence.
- 1/21/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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