What the movie 20 Days in Mariupol is about and why it may win Ukraine's first Oscar

20 Days in Mariupol is a Ukrainian documentary film that tells the story of the tragedy of Mariupol, Donetsk region, during the full-scale Russian invasion of 2022. The film was made by Ukrainian videographer and war journalist Mstyslav Chernov, who spent 20 days in the city and documented the horrific events that took place there. The film was also produced by photographer Yevhen Malolietka and producer Vasylisa Stepanenko.

20 Days in Mariupol has every chance of winning an Oscar this year. The Ukrainian film is nominated for Best Documentary Feature. OBOZ.UA decided to collect key information about the documentary, which did not leave any viewer indifferent, in one article.

What the movie is about

The main characters of the film are ordinary people who found themselves in the epicenter of a brutal terrorist war. The film tells their stories, highlighting the bombing, hunger, cold and loss of loved ones.

Mstyslav Chernov and Yevhen Malolietka documented the horrific destruction of Mariupol as a result of Russian bombing: houses, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure facilities were destroyed.

The film shows the attempts of Mariupol residents to survive the siege without water, food, or mobile communication. And all this under constant shelling by Russian troops. The film also describes the difficult and dangerous process of evacuating people from Mariupol. Chernov shoots evacuation convoys that came under repeated shelling by the occupiers.

Awards

20 Days in Mariupol has already won several awards at international film festivals. These includes the following:

• BAFTA for Best Documentary
• Docudays UA for Best Documentary
• Krakow Film Festival - Award for Courage
• Freedom Film Festival - Freedom of Speech Award.

We would like to add that in the summer, the film became the highest-grossing documentary in the Ukrainian box office.

Chances to win at the Oscars

Oddschecker collected data from more than 20 bookmakers to find out which of the films in the Best Documentary category analysts predicted to win. 20 Days in Mariupol is on the first place in this rating. More than 50% of all bookmakers' bets are on the Ukrainian documentary.

Where to watch the movie

The movie is currently not available for viewing in Ukraine. Back in November last year, the film was released on YouTube, but the video is no longer available. However, it is known that as of January 17, it has been viewed 1.3 million times.

Critics' opinions

• "This is a powerful and emotional film that will not leave anyone indifferent." - The New York Times.
• "This is an important documentary that speaks to the tragedy of Ukraine." - BBC News.
• "A must-see for anyone who wants to understand the power of the human spirit." - The Guardian.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!