The documentary "20 Days in Mariupol" is an Oscar masterpiece that has become a symbol of justice and the fight for freedom. The horrors of war and the strength of the human spirit are the main themes of the film that leave a mark on our hearts.

In the world of cinema, there are always those whose name becomes synonymous with talent, skill and greatness, in this case also with heroic journalistic work. In 2024, this name was Mstyslav Chernov, a Ukrainian filmmaker, journalist, and Kharkiv resident whose documentary 20 Days in Mariupol was a real discovery of the year and won the most prestigious award of the American Film Academy in the Best Documentary Feature category. This is the first Oscar for Ukraine and the first film created on the front line in the history of the award.

The film "20 Days in Mariupol" was created by an Associated Press team that included Mstyslav Chernov, Yevhen Malolietka and Vasilisa Stepanenko. All three received the Pulitzer Prize for their work in Mariupol. They were the only representatives of the international media who, as war correspondents, documented the fighting in Mariupol.

At first glance, the name of Mstyslav Chernov may seem unknown, but his creative contribution to cinema cannot be overestimated: he captured a fragment of a historic war and showed the world the war crimes of russia and putin's terror against the people of Ukraine, bringing to the fore deeply important issues of war, human nature, true strength and common courage.

The story of 20 Days in Mariupol tells the story of the people of Mariupol during the siege of the city in the first 20 days of the full-scale war that engulfed Ukraine on February 24, 2022. The film shows their daily struggle for survival, love and hope in the face of the ruthlessness of the war. However, alongside the scenes of horror and destruction, there is also a place for the human capacity for sacrifice and solidarity.

The main characters of the film, ordinary citizens, make the viewer feel every drop of pain and despair of their experiences. Their path from hopelessness to hope becomes a symbol of endurance and courage of thousands of people who found themselves in a similar situation.

Mstyslav Chernov skillfully uses every frame, interviews every person who is in the frame of his lens to convey the atmosphere of war and despair, making the viewer feel its reality and horror. From the sound of explosions and the deafening thunder of bombs to the quiet, almost indecipherable whispers of prayers and promises of ordinary people. Each scene is imbued with tension and emotion, making us think about the true horror of war. It is most painful to realize the fragility of human life, and most of all - of children's lives.

The visual effects of the film are no less impressive. The crushed buildings, broken windows, fires and corpses convey a realistic picture of the devastation of war that helps the viewer better understand the truth and see with their own eyes the horror faced by every Ukrainian whose life has been touched by war.

However, the real power of the film is its message of community and human nature. Despite the undeniable cruelty of war, the people Chernov met find strength and solidarity in each other, they help, sympathize, and support each other, even despite the terrible risk to their lives. In the film, he says that during the war, good people become even kinder, and evil people become even more evil. Ordinary Ukrainians, including pensioners, mothers with children, pregnant women, police officers, doctors, share their thoughts, feelings, memories and hopes with us, showing that nothing can break the human spirit.

All in all, 20 Days in Mariupol is a film that leaves the viewer shocked and vulnerable, and some of the shots are particularly painful to watch. But that's how it should be. Although it is a documentary about the war in Ukraine, it has become a true masterpiece of cinema that is worth seeing for anyone interested in delving into the issues of war and human destiny.

"20 Days in Mariupol" is not only a film, but also a strong reminder of the importance of peace and solidarity. It leaves a mark in the hearts of viewers and helps them to understand that even in the darkest times, a ray of hope can appear.

20 Days in Mariupol is a masterpiece of contemporary documentary cinema. Chernov went to the front line with the military to show the world the truth about what is happening in Ukraine during the war. He tracked every moment - from the heroism of the locals to the brutality of the fighting.

Chernov not only captured the events that changed world history, but also recreated them with such power and emotional depth that every frame makes the viewer stop and think. His lens doesn't just capture - it tells a true story that touches the heart and leaves a mark in the mind.

With the Oscar, Mstyslav Chernov rose to the top of world cinema, but for him, it was not just a recognition of his work, but also an opportunity to draw attention to the problem of war in Ukraine:

"I am grateful. But I will probably be the first director on this stage to say: I wish I had never made this movie. I would like to be able to exchange this for russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities. I would give all this recognition for the russians not to kill tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainian citizens. I would give it to free all the hostages, the soldiers who defended our land, the civilians who are in their prisons. However, we all together - and among you are the most talented people in the world - we can put everything in its place in history so that the truth will win. And so that the dead people of Mariupol and those who gave their lives will never be forgotten. Because cinema shapes memories, and memories shape history," said Mstyslav Chernov during his Oscar acceptance speech in Los Angeles.

Mstyslav Chernov is not only a director, but also the voice of a generation who has witnessed important events and tells about them in his journalistic works. He continues to reveal the beauty and complexity of Ukrainian reality to the world through the lens of the camera, and his name becomes a symbol of the struggle for truth and freedom.