Scandal at the Venice Film Festival: The presentation of "Russians at War" causes a stormy reaction

An event took place at the 81st Venice Film Festival that shook the world of cinema. The official presentation of the documentary film "Russians at War" by Russian director Anastasia Trofimova caused mixed reactions among viewers and critics.

Propaganda nature of the film

Iryna Tsylyk, a Ukrainian director, who sharply criticized the film, was in the center of attention. In her comment published on social networks, Tsylyk called the film a vivid example of Russian propaganda.

"Trofimova, known for her work on Russia Today, uses proven propaganda methods."

Scandalous facts and inaccuracies

The film contains numerous historical and factual inaccuracies. In particular, the war in Ukraine in the film begins only in 2022, and Crimea is not mentioned at all. Instead, the author focuses on the so-called "civil war" in Ukraine, which caused outrage among many viewers.

Reaction of Ukrainian cinematographers

Ukrainian producer Darya Bassel also expressed her dissatisfaction. She noted that the first hero of the film is a Ukrainian who fights on the side of Russia, which further strengthens the manipulative nature of the film.

"This film shows serious historical distortions and ignores the real facts of the conflict."

Recognition at international festivals

Despite the criticism, "Russians at War" won acclaim at the Venice Film Festival and plans to play in Toronto. This raises concerns about the level of cynicism and obscurity of top film festivals.

Call for thoroughness

Cilyk calls for a more thorough approach in selecting films for premieres, stressing the need to fight propaganda at the international level. She is sure that such tapes should not be given a platform to broadcast their ideas.

Editor: Yana Davydiuk