'Amateurs' documentary premieres on NV, spotlighting civilians joining Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces post-February 24, 2022
The upcoming documentary film "Amateurs" provides an intimate portrayal of Ukraine's civilian uprising against Russian invaders, capturing the raw and emotional journey of over 100,000 individuals who joined the Territorial Defense Forces after February 24, 2022.
Almost none of them had any military experience.
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Through hundreds of interviews, the film reveals the evolution of these 'amateurs' into seasoned warriors, showcasing their decisions, battles, deaths, optimism, strength, pain, and tenderness.
Produced by Volodymyr Borodyanskyi and Ilona Schneider, "Amateurs" is set to premiere on Feb. 23, 2024, at 10 p.m. on the Ukrainian STB TV channel and on Feb. 24 on NV.
"We deliberately did not choose characters based on their participation in famous battles and decisive events of the war,” said the film crew members.
“Each person who courageously took up arms during the days when the fate of the Ukrainian nation hung in the balance is a hero. Within the chosen minimalist strategy (the film relies solely on live speech), the person becomes the plot — their unconcealed emotions, frank stories about doubts and choices of the first days."
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"Time passes and many precious details are lost, that's how human memory works,” said Maxim Kurochkin, one of the film's authors.
“The characters ‘outgrew’ themselves since then, they are already far from ‘amateurs,’ but experienced warriors."
"We are convinced that preserving the uncensored version of events is crucial for history. To show not the current professionals, but the then beginners-amateurs,” he said.
“By recounting their journey, they bring us closer to grasping the nature of invincibility. We wanted the camera lens to see each defender of Ukraine as a Hollywood star. After all, few Hollywood stars can boast of such adventures and difficult inner choices that have befallen our heroes. Our people are truly remarkable, and we must inspire the world to love them as deeply as we do."
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The filmmakers strived to capture (or rather, reconstruct) the unique state of Ukrainian society during the winter-spring of 2022, emphasizing the title of the film. These civilians have long since become military professionals. Yet, history must record the moment of national effective unity, without omissions and embellishments. The documentary refrains from dictating the characters' self-perception, clothing choices, or language.
"The film crew did a great job to get the characters to share the thoughts that went into the film,” Volodymyr Borodyanskyi said.
“I believe the film's true value will become apparent in the future, as the events of these years fade into the background. We successfully captured a vivid and significant moment in history. The filming took place in late 2022 and early 2023. This period marked a time when Ukrainian society was in a state of full mobilization when regular missile attacks and blackouts were combined with a sense of the preserved statehood of Ukraine. Beyond serving as a historical record, "Amateurs" has the potential to be a source of support and strength for viewers facing important life choices."
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
