2000 Meters to Andriivka

Director Mstyslav Chernov offers an unflinching look at the brutal realities of conflict with his “2000 Meters to Andriivka,” a gut-wrenching, no-holds-barred documentary that pulls you right into the heart of the war in Ukraine. From the moment you step into this film, you’re immersed in a world of devastation, destruction, and loss through incredibly shocking and compelling footage. The documentary follows a Ukrainian platoon as they attempt to liberate the village of Andriivka, a strategic location devastated by war. Accompanied by a journalist, the platoon pushes forward through a heavily fortified forest as they inch their way through a harsh landscape marked by mines, ruins torn apart by the conflict, and constant, deadly danger. Along the way, these solders start to realize that the war might not end anytime soon, and the documentary explores not just the military struggle but the emotional and psychological toll that consumes these civilians and fighters. Chernov’s observational style allows the harrowing images to speak for themselves, and there’s no sugarcoating the brutality of war. The camera captures moments of destruction, injuries, and death with such raw intensity that at times, it feels almost too much to bear. He takes you into the war as a visual passenger, with unprecedented access. You’ll feel like you’re in the trenches with the soldiers, hearing the explosions, seeing the aftermath of bombings, and feeling the weight of it all. The ugliness of war is on full display, with Chernov delivering a powerful, unvarnished truth that tests the limits of our basic humanity. The narration complements the film perfectly, never overshadowing the images but instead embedding you deeper into the experience. It’s straightforward, grounded, and adds to the documentary’s authenticity. Chernov’s perspective as both a journalist and a Ukrainian filmmaker gives the film a unique voice that’s both personal and professional. He is very effective at capturing the struggle from the front lines while maintaining an honest distance, which makes it feel like award-winning reporting from the front lines. The film raises important questions about the responsibility of journalists in war zones, from the need to show the truth but to portray the realities of conflict without distortion. Chernov doesn’t offer any solutions or political commentary but presents the facts as they are, allowing the viewer to come to their own conclusions about the futility and horror of war. Immersive, painful, and haunting, “2000 Meters to Andriivka” is not an easy film to watch, but it’s a vital piece of filmmaking that gives voice to the people living through the unimaginable hell of being forced to defend their home. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

A squad of doughty Ukrainian soldiers are given a mission. They have to advance to relieve the beleaguered town of Andriivka. It’s not far, a mere 2 kilometres - a distance you could walk in quarter of an hour at a decent pace. These fellas have no road, though, no path or trail. Accompanied by a video-journalist, they have to get down on their bellies and crawl, under sniper fire, uncertain as to what waits behind the next burnt out building. Their terrain, well it looks like the product of a scorched-earth policy. The trees have been reduced to sticks, the soil a black and grey mix of dirt and ash, and yet these young men remain remarkably stoic about their task. Their’s is a mission from God to protect their homeland from the Russian invaders, and they are content to put their lives and limbs on the line to achieve their goal. We see something of their determination and sense of team spirit here, but unlike so many dramatised versions we will have seen over the years, this almost smells real. Death is there for these men. We see it, we hear it. We watch them hunker down in what’s left of their forests, we see them only marginally more safe inside their armoured vehicles. And all for what? When we reach the conclusion we expect, and get, scenes of decimation. The town looks like it has been hit by a meteor. There isn’t a building left with it’s roof intact. All they can find is a kitten, and boy are they going to get that to safety. The banter between the men and between the men and the journo really goes to show us just how these young men, barely out of their teens, are dealing with fear, anxiety, anger, lack of sleep - you name it, but never do we see them contemplate retreat. Watching them, though, you can’t help but think of the futility of their exercise. Despite their endeavours, the war is being lost. It’s being lost miles away by aerial bombardments from a far superior force that’s destroying their infrastructure. No food, water, medical supplies or fuel. How can they hope to prevail against such odds? We can see that from our cinema seats and I suspect many of them can too from their dugouts, or their funeral processions - but their commitment remains undiminished and you just can’t help but admire and like them and their attitude, cheek and sense of purpose. It isn’t an easy documentary to watch, but by the end I did feel I had got to know these men a little, and that I did have some skin in their game.