🎥 Yesterday in Paris was the French premiere of the Ukrainian documentary Intercepted, which was supported by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and ARTE as part of the Génération Ukraine project.
🇫🇷 The screening was organised with the support of the French Ministry of Culture and theUkrainian Embassy in France, in collaboration with theUkrainian Institute in France.
🪖🇷🇺 In this hard-hitting documentary, Ukrainian director Oksana Karpovych offers a gripping look at the reality of the war in Ukraine. Through silent images of the daily lives of Ukrainians, who are trying to resume their routine after the passage of Russian troops, the director juxtaposes the verbal violence of conversations intercepted by Ukrainian intelligence services between Russian soldiers and their families.
🗣📱 These conversations reveal a dark side of the war: Russian soldiers talk freely about torture and blame Ukrainians, whom they pejoratively refer to as ‘khokhols’, for everything from poverty and the Covid-19 pandemic to diseases affecting their livestock. Listening to these words reveals the depth of Russian indoctrination and propaganda that permeates their daily lives. Many of the soldiers, emotionally detached from the war, expressed a total lack of sensitivity to the horrors they were committing or suffering. The Russian government promises them money to enlist, but these promises never materialise.
The screening of ‘Intercepted ’ is a rare opportunity to plunge into this brutal reality, not only through images, but also through the dehumanising narratives that accompany war. The film shows the extent to which the minds of Russian soldiers are manipulated, turning them into the tools of a propaganda machine.
Produced in collaboration between Canada, France and Ukraine, ‘Intercepted’ has already been shown at the Berlinale and is one of five films nominated for the prestigious European Lux Prize. The film’s production is the result of close collaboration between French and Ukrainian artists and technicians, strengthening the cultural and professional ties between the two countries.
🎞 Director Oksana Karpovych was present at the screening to talk to the audience about the creation of this film, which strikes a powerful balance between the banality of everyday scenes and the psychological violence of intercepted conversations. Her work shows us the extent to which the war being waged by Russia is not just a military war, but also a war of images and disinformation.
🇺🇦 Stand with Ukraine was present at the screening and was able to discuss initiatives in support of Ukrainian cinema in France with the many French and Ukrainian cultural figures present.
Intercepted shows the truth behind Russia’s aggression against my country. The images captured in this film are proof of the war crimes committed by Russia, and one day they will be used to bring those responsible to justice.
Vadym Omelchenko, Ukrainian ambassador to France
