Essential Details about the Riveting Ukraine War Documentary ’20 Days in Mariupol’

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Cinema-goers in specific cities will soon have the opportunity to view “20 Days in Mariupol,” a deeply moving documentary that captures Russia’s initial attack on the Ukrainian city.

This 94-minute film is a collaborative effort between The Big Big News and PBS “Frontline,” and has garnered critical praise and an audience award at the Sundance Film Festival. Mstyslav Chernov, an AP journalist, directed the movie, using 30 hours of footage that he and his AP colleagues captured in Mariupol during the initial stages of the war.

Chernov, together with Evgeniy Maloletka, a photographer, and producer Vasilisa Stepanenko, were the last international journalists in the city prior to their escape.

Chernov expressed a need to utilize the extensive footage to narrate a more comprehensive story and to convey to the audience the full extent of the situation, saying, “I thought I should do something more with that 30 hours of footage to tell a bigger story and more context to show the audience of the scale.”

As the film begins to be shown in theaters, here’s a closer look at its creation and where it will be available for viewing.

ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
One year after Mariupol’s takeover, a survivor from Azovstal looks back on the surrender with pain and purpose
INSIGHT: Why Mariupol’s steel mill battle is significant
AP PHOTOS: A POW’s legacy through pictures of Mariupol siege

WHERE CAN I VIEW ‘20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL’?

Screenings of the film will commence this Friday in theaters in New York and Chicago. Details about showtimes and tickets can be found at https://20daysinmariupol.com/.

In the following week, the film will be shown in Chicago, Boston, Santa Monica, California, and the Bay Area. On July 28, the film will be screened in Sarasota, Florida.

Later in the year, the documentary will be broadcasted on PBS’ “Frontline.”

WHAT ARE SOME KEY POINTS ABOUT THE FILM?

The documentary presents a raw depiction of the initial stages of the war in Mariupol, full of death and despair. Chernov, Maloletka, and Stepanenko documented the street battles, the tremendous pressure on the besieged residents of Mariupol, and attacks that caused fatalities among pregnant women, children, and others.

The film’s trailer gives a glimpse of some of the challenging scenes in the film.

WHAT IS THE CRITICAL RESPONSE TO ‘20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL’?

The film has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, boasting a 100% rating on the film rating website Rotten Tomatoes.

Harper’s Bazaar has stated that viewing Chernov’s film is a “humanitarian duty.”

The Hollywood Reporter mentioned in its review, “What comes through most vividly, other than the human tragedy on display, is the vital importance of war correspondents and the courage and ingenuity they must possess in order to work under such life-threatening conditions.”

HOW WAS THE FILM CREATED?

During their 20 days in Mariupol, Chernov and the AP team could only send limited footage and reports.

Once they had safely exited the city, the team had the chance to examine their footage. Chernov decided to concentrate on the period they spent in the city and provided narration for the film himself.

He believes in sharing emotions with the audience, stating, “It’s OK to tell the audiences about your emotions,” but he insists that it’s important to not let those emotions influence what is shown. He strived to maintain fairness in his narration.

The film was edited by “Frontline” producer Michelle Mizner.

WHERE CAN I DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE REPORTING BEHIND THE FILM?

Chernov’s personal recount of escaping the city — as Russian soldiers pursued the AP team — reveals the remarkable backstory of their reporting.

Even after their exit from Mariupol, the AP team continued their documentation of the conflict in the city. This included an in-depth investigation into a Russian attack on a theater, which killed an estimated 600 civilians, and Russia’s attempts to erase the city’s identity after gaining control over it.

The team’s work was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for public service. Links to the team’s stories and videos can be found on the Pulitzer site. The AP’s war coverage, including in Mariupol and beyond, won the breaking news photography category this year.

A project on possible war crimes, jointly produced by AP and “Frontline,” is available on the PBS site.

Regular updates on the war are accessible for free on APNews at https://bigbignews.net/russia-ukraine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ’20 Days in Mariupol’ documentary

More about ’20 Days in Mariupol’ documentary

• 20 Days in Mariupol Official Website
• Rotten Tomatoes Rating for 20 Days in Mariupol
• Harper’s Bazaar Review
• The Hollywood Reporter Review
• Pulitzer Prize Winning Coverage by AP Team
• APNews Updates on Russia-Ukraine War
• PBS’ Frontline