20 Days in Mariupol
dir. Mstyslav Chernov · 2023
A team of Ukrainian journalists finds themselves trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol, capturing the harrowing realities of war as they document atrocities unfolding around them. Watching this film is like being thrust into the chaos of conflict, where every frame is a visceral reminder of the human cost of war and the moral complexities faced by those who bear witness.
A team of Ukrainian journalists from The Associated Press (AP) trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only international reporters who remain in the city, they capture what later become defining images of the war: dying children, mass graves, the bombing of a maternity hospital, and more. After nearly a decade covering international conflicts, including the Russia-Ukraine war for the AP, 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL is Mstyslav Chernov's first feature length film. Drawing on Chernov's daily news dispatches and personal footage of his own country at war, 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL is a vivid, harrowing account of civilians caught in the siege, as well as a window into what it's like to report from a conflict zone, and the impact of such journalism around the globe.
