Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Sergei Loznitsa Fotografia / Photography: Evgeny Adamenko, Piotr Pawlus Montaggio / Editing: Danielius Kokanauskis, Sergei Loznitsa Suono / Sound: Vladimir Golovnitski Produzione, Distribuzione internazionale / Produced by, World Sales: Atoms & Void Coproduzione / Co-produced by: Arte France In associazione con / In association with: Current Time TV
110 years after the release of his epic film Maidan, Sergei Loznitsa resumes his Ukrainian chronicles by documenting the countryās struggle against the Russian invasion. Shot over a 2-year period, the film portrays the life of the civilian population all over Ukraine. The Invasion presents a unique and ultimate statement of Ukrainian resilience in the face of barbaric invasion. In the second part of his Ukrainian diptych, Loznitsa paints a monumental canvas of a nation determined to defend its right to exist. The film was presented in 2024 at the Cannes Film Festival, in the āSpecial Screeningsā section.
āWhen dealing with events of such massive historical scale, it is crucial to define the subject of oneās film very precisely. I didnāt want to make a film about the causes of this war. I decided to focus on the daily existence of the people. I wanted to observe and document the ways in which the war corrupts, impacts and transforms their lives. The more material was shot, the more episodes I had with final edit and sound, the better I could see the structure of the future film. Iād describe it using the poetic term āa crown of sonnetsā. This particular genre is characterised by a circular intra-textual structure, with each new episode/sonnet being linked to the previous one by its topic or style or character, or some other element. Of course, cinema and poetry are different art forms, but I do feel that such an analogy is justified. The Invasion is a circle of life shrouded by the breath of death.ā (S. Loznitsa)
Sergei Loznitsa
Internationally renowned film and documentary director, Sergei Loznitsa was born in 1964 in Baranavichy, now Belarus. In 1987 he graduated from the Kiev Polytechnic with a degree in applied mathematics. In 1997 Loznitsa graduated from VGIK in Moscow, in movie production and direction. Besides presenting a number of his films, in 2011 the Trieste FF dedicated a tribute to his cinema; in 2013 In the Fog won the Best Feature Film award. In 2019 Loznitsa has been invited to hold a masterclass, within the 30th edition of the festival. After its premiere in Cannes, The Invasion was presented at many international festivals, including Karlovy Vary, BFI London and Tallinn Black Nights.
filmografia scelta / selected filmography
2000 Polustanok doc. 2004 Fabrika doc. 2010 SÄastāje moje (My Joy) 2012 V tumane (Anime nella nebbia / In the Fog); Premi / Awards: Cannes FF ā Premio FIPRESCI / FIPRESCI Prize; Trieste FF ā Miglior lungometraggio / Best Feature Film 2014 Maidan doc. 2015 Sobytie doc. 2017 Krotkaja (A Gentle Creature) 2018 Donbass; Premi / Awards: Cannes FF āUn Certain Regardā ā Miglior regia / Best Director; Denā Pobedy (Victory Day) doc.; 2019 State Funeral doc. 2021 Babi Yar. Context doc.; Premi / Awards: Cannes FF ā Miglior documentario / Best Documentary; Mr. Landsbergis; Premi / Awards: IDFA ā Miglior film, Miglior montaggio / Best Film, Best Editing 2022 The Natural History of Destruction doc.; Premi / Awards: Chicago IFF ā Miglior documentario / Best Documentary Feature; The Kiev Trial doc. 2024 The Invasion doc.
