Militantropos

Militantropos, the opening text explains, is “a persona adopted by humans entering a state of war.” It’s the title of this film exposing how the Russian invasion has permeated all facets of life in Ukraine.

Starting from the moment the first evacuation trains depart from Kyiv’s central station, the film follows the ensuing chaos and devastation—and the rise of a fighting spirit. We see civilians train in combat skills, men head to the front, crops wither, and mothers and young widows grieve. And we hear that constant, ominous rumble in the distance.

In thoughtfully crafted scenes, we witness the evolution of an instinct to survive, and an enduring need for compassion. Some scenes—like when a swarm of press photographers in bulletproof vests try to capture images of an old woman carrying a shopping bag—have an absurd quality. Others—like the soldier writing a poem for his beloved—are deeply moving. During brief lulls in the fighting, we see young men in the trenches watch the Soccer World Cup. Gradually, a picture emerges of how the human psyche adapts to a new reality: People become part of the war—and the war becomes part of them.