Intercepted is a disturbing insight into the minds of Russian soldiers participating in the war against Ukraine, as well as their relatives home in Russia, conveyed through their phone calls. At the same time, a calm observation of the daily life and the physical results of the war on the ground. Very much recommended.
Seen at the Human International Documentary Festival in Oslo.
Ukraine Daily summary - Saturday, December 14 2024
How will Russia's war in Ukraine end? The good, the bad, and the ugly scenarios -- Ukraine resisting Russian encirclement attempts at 4 Donetsk Oblast villages -- Ukraine strikes oil depot in Russia's Oryol Oblast -- How Kadyrov became so powerful, and why Chechnya remains vital for survival of Putin's regime -- and more
Bref, #Intercepted est à voir pour prendre la mesure de l'abaissement moral que représente l'invasion de l'Ukraine par la Russie et des dégâts psychologiques considérables actuellement à l'œuvre et qui pèseront pour une voire deux générations a minima.
Russia will be soon forced to scale down attacks, Ukrainian commander says -- Kyiv uncovers suspected Russian agent network planning civilian infrastructure sabotage in Ukraine, Europe -- Cyberattack on Russian banks, telecoms continues into third day -- Hong Kong shell companies facilitate Russian sanctions evasion, NYT reports -- and more
The structure of the film is extremely simple: footage of Ukrainian cities destroyed during the war is shown alongside recordings of telephone conversations between Russian soldiers and their relatives (soldiers talk about killing civilians, torture, looting).
The camera registers images of destruction in unhurried shots, in which we see Ukrainian villages, towns, houses and motorways after their liberation from the Russian occupation. (…) Throughout the film, the soundtrack forms a shocking counterpoint. We listen to the recordings of telephone conversations intercepted in 2022 by the Ukrainian Secret Service between Russian soldiers in trenches in Ukraine and their families: (…) the soldiers’ confessions of the rape, looting and brutal torture of Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war or the (mainly) female voices from “back home” that bear witness to chauvinism and hatred, disinformation and schizophrenic propaganda. [Berlin International Film Festival]
Long, mostly static shots show images from Ukraine after the start of the war in 2022. The scenery can be observed as if framed: Destroyed buildings, streets, personal belongings in the shattered wall unit. People swimming in the lake, ruins in the background.
I became a fan of #Intercepted mostly due to what I call "Jeremy's rant" (in the beginning of the episode) in which he tells the truth in no uncertain way.
This episode has an exemplary rant
Intercepted: How Israel Commodifies Mass Killing Through Its “Palestine Laboratory”
ISW: Putin hopes to convince West to betray Ukraine -- Poland scrambles F-16s to defend airspace during Russian attacks on Ukraine -- UK oil refinery extends credit with oil company linked to sanctioned Russian oligarch -- Russian missile reportedly hits Russian village amid latest mass attack on Ukraine -- and more
Czech president says Ukraine shouldn't rush counteroffensive -- Wagner a ‘shadow of what it once was’: Russia security expert on the rage of mercenary boss Prigozhin -- Ukrainian intelligence warns of Victory Day provocations by Russia -- German general, expresses hope for fighter aircraft -- and more