Immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, filmmakerEvgeny Afineevskymade a bold prediction.
Evidence has shown he did not misread Ukraines resolve.
It was important to show that the scope of the atrocities has continued.
‘Freedom on Fire: Ukraine’s Fight for Freedom’Diamond Docs
And its not about military targets, as Russia claims, but its civilian places.
(Ukrainian President Zelenskyy called Russias act an environmental bomb of mass destruction).
They have resilience, they have dignity, they are ready to die for their motherland.
Director Evgeny Afineevsky at the 79th Venice International Film Festival.Victor Boyko/Getty Images
But the most important thing, they have a great sense of humor and humanity, Afineevsky tells Deadline.
InFreedom on Fire, the opening sequence tempers the grim reality above ground.
Thats why this scene was really important for me, he says.
It was really important to set the tone for the entire movie.
Putin has found mouthpieces for his message on Capitol Hill.
Zelenskyy a dictator and vouchsafed Putins benign intentions.
He doesnt want Ukraine, he doesnt want Europe, Tuberville claimed.
Hes got enough land of his own.
He just wants to confirm that he does not have United States weapons in Ukraine pointing at Moscow.
Afineevsky says that purported reading of the situation is utterly and dangerously wrong.
And he asked kids where the Russian borders end.
And the kids said, The Bering Strait.
And Putin said, No, no, no, no, no.
The Russian borders never end.
And its a great sentence to remind people that his ambition does not have any limits, Afineevsky says.
Putin doesnt believe in the borders that exist right now.
He sees Russia as one big country over the entire globe, basically.
Afineevsky sees the West falling prey to Russias propaganda machine.
I openly say the war that we are fighting today… is a hybrid war.
On one side we do have missiles, bombs that are falling on Ukraine, killing people.
Its not just the frontlines today; its everywhere in Ukraine.
There is no safe place.
But at the same time, there is another side of this war and its an information war.
Through disinformation, through social media engagement, Russia is manipulating people, dividing countries.
Its quite an effective weapon in todays world.
Its quite an effective weapon.
Propaganda, first of all, its invisible.
Second, it doesnt need an American visa or European visa.
And then the snowball continues and its a very dangerous thing.
The documentarians traditional role of truth seeker and truthteller becomes even more essential in such a polluted information environment.
Hes at work on a new documentary that will focus on children, the wars youngest victims.
So thats coming in my next project.
