Embedded on the front line, a journalist follows a Ukrainian platoon tasked with an almost impossible objective: crossing 2,000 meters of heavily fortified forest to retake a small but crucial village from Russian control. As the soldiers advance step by step, the camera captures the raw reality of modern warfare—exhaustion, fear, solidarity, and the constant presence of death—turning a military operation into an intimate portrait of those fighting it. As the mission unfolds, the film goes beyond tactics and gunfire to confront the deeper cost of war. The journalist witnesses shattered landscapes, broken bodies, and minds pushed to their limits, while doubts grow about how—and when—the conflict might end. What emerges is a haunting reflection on courage and survival, and on a generation forced to measure hope in meters gained at devastating cost.
This film, which spans all three episodes of the series, is a riveting documentary that traces the incredible journey of Volodymyr Zelensky, from comedian to wartime president. Director Michael Waldman expertly weaves interviews, political milestones, and footage of Zelensky's rise to fame in the Ukrainian entertainment industry. From his portrayal of a fictional president in Servant of the People to becoming a real-life leader facing the full-scale Russian invasion, the documentary highlights Zelensky's determination, charisma, and humanity. The film captures the profound contrast between Zelensky and Russian president Vladimir Putin, portraying their intertwined destinies as a battle between light and darkness. With compelling interviews from Zelensky, his wife Olena, and colleagues, it reveals the personal and political struggles that shaped his leadership. This documentary is a must-see, offering a deep, cinematic portrait of a man thrust into the role of a global hero.
A team of Ukrainian journalists from The Associated Press 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. Drawing on director Mstyslav Chernov's daily news dispatches and personal footage of his own country at war, the film 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.
In March 2022, the Russian army was closing in on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, and it was expected to fall in a short period of time. But in fact, many citizens chose to remain in their beloved city and provide resistance in whatever way they could. Despite daily missile attacks and the fear of an impending urban war, they were united in their efforts to protect their freedom and democracy. This documentary looks at the people of Kyiv through the eyes of a Ukrainian filmmaker.
Austrian director Michael Glawogger travels to five countries to focus on some of the worst jobs imaginable: Ukrainian miners crawl into tiny cracks in old coal pits to scratch out a few bags of winter fuel; Indonesian workers trudge long distances carrying baskets with hundreds of pounds of sulfur chunks extracted from a steaming mountain; Pakistanis risk explosions and burial under tons of scrap iron as they dismantle huge carrier ships. The visuals are everything here. Despite the hardships depicted, many sequences have a dreamlike beauty. In addition, the director has a bone-dry sense of irony; during the Ukraine scenes, he frequently cuts away to a statue of Stakhanov, the "hero" lauded by the Soviets for his superhuman work habits. He also shows us an old German smelting works that's been converted into a theme park.
In Episodes 7–9, you’ll witness breathtaking moments as Ewan and Charley set up camp on a secluded Finnish island and test their skills at logrolling in the tranquil lakes. After 3,000 miles of relentless mechanical issues, Ewan faces the ultimate setback when his bike finally gives out—until a team of Estonian mechanics steps in to bring the adventure back to life. This stretch of the journey is steeped in nostalgia as the friends retrace the same roads they traveled two decades ago, discovering how much the world—and themselves—have changed. Along the way, they make an emotional stop at a Ukrainian refugee center, where stories of resilience and hope leave an unforgettable mark.
As the mission unfolds, the film goes beyond tactics and gunfire to confront the deeper cost of war. The journalist witnesses shattered landscapes, broken bodies, and minds pushed to their limits, while doubts grow about how—and when—the conflict might end. What emerges is a haunting reflection on courage and survival, and on a generation forced to measure hope in meters gained at devastating cost.