The documentary Russians at Warwhich has caused controversy since its presentation in Venice, will remain at the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF), despite criticism from kyiv, its director announced on Thursday.
Since its presentation at the Venice Film Festival, this film by Russian-Canadian director Anastasia Trofimova, which gives voice to Russian soldiers, has attracted the wrath of Ukrainian cultural and political figures who see it as “Russian propaganda.”
In a newsletter released on Thursday, the ZFF acknowledged that the film had already “made waves” and said it had received “letters of protest.”
“We can understand that the film arouses strong emotions among Ukrainians, but we are maintaining the screenings because we consider Russians at War as an anti-war film that — like Nothing new in the Westwhich won four Oscars — shows how mostly young soldiers are reduced to pulp,” the festival says.
It refers to Edward Berger’s German adaptation of novelist Erich Maria Remarque’s pacifist masterpiece about the horrors of World War I.
“Incite discussion”
“We understand the discontent of the Ukrainians,” but the film will be shown as planned, ZFF director Christian Jungen said at a press conference in Zurich, the Swiss news agency Keystone-ATS reported.
He explained that “films should provoke discussion” and that he considers the documentary “as an anti-war film.”
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture announced a few days ago that it had placed the director of the documentary on the list of “persons posing a threat to national security”, and that the documentary was recently removed from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) due to threats.
A Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman warned on X on Thursday that screening the film would ruin the ZFF’s reputation. “This is a propaganda film that whitewashes war crimes, not a documentary. The real Russians at war are invaders, war criminals and rapists. Covering them up means being an accomplice.”
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry had already said on the same social network that it was “outraged” by the fact that the ZFF was considering broadcasting the documentary.
Despite criticism from kyiv, the Swiss festival, which will open on October 3 for ten days, has decided to keep the documentary on its programme.
According to her website, Anastasia Trofimova has previously made several documentaries in Syria, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including those broadcast by the Russian state channel RT, which is sanctioned in the European Union and the United States.
Mr. Jungen acknowledged that the director was “not without problems” and said a roundtable discussion would be held to discuss the making of the film.
Several stars are expected this year for this 20e edition of the ZFF, including Richard Gere, Kate Winslet and Jude Law. American actress Pamela Anderson will be awarded for her lifetime achievement.