Два погляди на війну в кіно
Two Views on War in Cinema

Summary/Abstract: Two striking Ukrainian films of 2025—Divia by Dmytro Hreshko and Special Operation by Oleksiy Radynsky—open new cinematic paths in portraying the ongoing Russian‑Ukrainian war, each capturing a different facet of its human and environmental impact. Divia immerses viewers first in untouched nature before revealing how explosions, burned fields, and the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam violently reshape ecosystems, all without captions or commentary, relying solely on powerful imagery and sound to evoke a sense of vulnerability. Hreshko’s empathetic eye extends from flora and fauna to sappers clearing minefields, creating a visual symphony that reflects the war’s intrusion into every layer of life. Meanwhile, Special Operation reconstructs the Russian occupation of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant entirely through CCTV footage, piecing together tense, often surreal moments as soldiers roam corridors, bring supplies, loiter at doors, or inadvertently reveal their faces to the camera. Radynsky deepens the narrative by recreating missing sound in studio to preserve ethical boundaries while maintaining the immediacy of real‑time events. As the footage slows into forensic close‑ups of invaders’ faces, the film transforms into potential courtroom evidence, granting viewers the rare experience of confronting perpetrators directly. Despite the gravity, moments of dark humor emerge as occupiers attempt—and fail—to cover cameras, unaware that their movements are still captured. Together, these two films expand the language of wartime cinema, offering emotionally charged, visually innovative, and ethically grounded reflections on a conflict still shaping Ukraine’s reality.

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