“Donbass,” a drama about the consequences of Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine, will represent Ukraine at the 2019 U. S. Academy Awards. The film by the Belarus-born Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa will be nominated by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Oscars.
“Donbass” was co-produced by Ukraine, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Romania. The film premiered at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in May, where Loznitsa won the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Director.
The film’s international reception so far has been the rationale behind the choice of the Ukrainian Oscar Committee, which consists of filmmakers, film critics and journalists. The Committee has chosen “Donbass” over five other film contenders.
“Among the six films, ‘Donbass’ has received the widest international resonance and was literally showered with ecstatic reviews by film critics on both sides of the Atlantic,” Alexandr Husev, Ukrainian film critic and a member of the Committee, told the Kyiv Post.
Unlike some choices of the previous years, the decision to nominate “Donbass” is supported by many film critics, who are not part of the Committee.
“The choice of the Committee in 2018 is reasonable. Besides having a political context, ‘Donbass’ is a holistic film. Loznitsa doesn’t direct at a level lower than what he already achieved,” Ukrainian film critic Anton Frolov says.
“Donbass” consists of 13 grotesque vignettes about the life on the frontline and the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine. They are based on real life videos shot in the occupied territories that Loznitsa saw on the internet.
“A typical Ukrainian observes these senses, emotions and cruel truths from news releases every day. This film is directed towards the international audience. For those not involved in this constant news flow, it is an important and necessary film,” says Frolov.
The movie’s political relevance and responsiveness to real human stories is another reason for the Committee’s choice.
“This film corresponds to some political conjuncture, because it shows the consequences of the Russian aggression. But on the other hand, it’s a very universal drama about the disintegration of a state followed by the disintegration of an individual,” says Husev.
“Donbass” made its Ukrainian premiere at the Odesa International Film Festival in July. It’s North American premiere is scheduled for Sep. 6 at the Toronto International Film Festival. The short list announcement of the Academy Awards nominees is expected in January of 2019, with the ceremony scheduled for Feb. 24, 2019.
