Mystyslav Chernov, the Oscar™-winning director of 20 Days in Mariupol, follows a young Ukrainian platoon as they attempt to liberate a strategically vital location from Russian forces.

To film this harrowing portrait of Ukraine’s faltering 2023 counteroffensive against Russian forces, Chernov was embedded with the Ukrainian 3rd Separate Assault Brigade as they advanced, metre by metre, through a deadly forest corridor and toward the ruined village of Andriivka. Told through helmet-cam footage and first-person narration, the film rivetingly captures the grinding reality of modern conflict and the gruelling nature of the Russo-Ukrainian War – where progress is measured in lives lost and little ground gained. As the struggle drags on and the world becomes distracted by other events, Chernov offers no easy answers to the situation. A stark and essential companion to 20 Days in Mariupol, this is no story of triumph, but one of survival, memory and a record of what remains when the battle is over.

Early Doors: Sit back and enjoy coffee, cake and the big screen at Showroom Cinema for just £9 with a special all-in-one ticket for over 55s.

Director Mstyslav Chernov
Year 2025
Duration 1h 47m
Language Ukrainian and English with English subtitles