The Invasion
In the shadow of war, Ukraine’s determination turns the ordinary into resilience.
Sergei Loznitsa's “The Invasion”, released a decade after his acclaimed film “Maidan”, offers a powerful continuation of his chronicle of Ukraine. This time, he turns his lens toward the resilience of the Ukrainian people during the Russian invasion.
Filmed over two years across various regions and cities of Ukraine, the documentary immerses viewers in the daily rhythms of life as war becomes an unrelenting backdrop. From births and weddings to funerals, life perseveres in defiance of the conflict. With Loznitsa’s signature observational style, sharp visual composition, and masterful polyphonic sound design, the film captures the profound scars of war and the indomitable spirit of a nation determined to survive and defend their existence.
Sergei Loznitsa (1964) earned a degree in engineering and mathematics at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute, and later studied at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow (VGIK). He directed several short and feature-length documentaries before making his first fiction feature “My Joy”, which won the Grand Prix at PÖFF in 2010. His second feature “In the Fog” (2012) won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes and was screened also at PÖFF. In 2014, Loznitsa was PÖFF’s special guest with his documentary “Maidan” (2014).
Schastye moe (Minu õnn, PÖFF 2010), V tumane (Udus, PÖFF 2012), Maidan (PÖFF 2014, doc), Sobytie (Sündmus, PÖFF 2015, doc), Austerlitz (PÖFF 2016, doc), Krotkaya (Vagurake, PÖFF 2017), The Trial (Protsess, PÖFF 2018, doc), Donbass (PÖFF 2018), Mr. Landsbergis (PÖFF 2021, doc)