I heard the title of this documentary film numerous times, more so when Awards Season came around, and when I found out what it was about, I was not surprised hearing about the accolades it was receiving. Basically, it is about a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol at the beginning of the Russian invasion and war, 22 February 2022. Veteran war correspondent Mstyslav Chernov from The Associated Press (AP) and his fellow international reporters remained in the city and captured several atrocities of the Russian invasion. As the only journalists who remained, they capture what later became defining images of the war: maimed and dying children, several dead bodies, many bombings, including a maternity hospital, and all the medical professionals who stayed and tried to save those injured. This footage was passed onto news studios across the world, but President Vladimir Putin and the Russian press denied these horrific images, claiming them to be false with actors in studios. The journalists stayed for twenty days and managed to leave with the help of military personnel when it became too dangerous. It is a harrowing but important film, the filmmakers risked their lives to expose the truth about the shocking events in Ukraine for historical posterity and to raise awareness in the present. The horrible imagery of bloodshed, the attacks and all atrocities of war are disturbing, but it cannot be ignored. There has been huge support for Ukraine since the war began, including victory for the country at Eurovision, and there is huge hatred for Putin and his evil crimes against humanity. It is a gruesome film obviously difficult to watch, but its unflinching insight into the first threw weeks of this ongoing conflict is remarkable, a must-see documentary. It won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature Film, and it won the BAFTA for Best Documentary. Outstanding!
Review of 20 Days in Mariupol
