The highly controversial Canadian documentary ‘Russians at War’ finally premiered at TIFF this week after being suspended due to heavy protests against the film and threats made against film festival staff from pro-Ukraine protesters. Protesters, as well as Canadian politicians and Ukrainian diplomats, label the publicly funded documentary “Russian propaganda” and argue that it seeks to whitewash Russian war crimes. The directors of the film categorically deny the accusations and maintain that their documentary is an anti-war film.
The director, Anastasia Trofimova, a Russian-Canadian woman who previously worked for the CBC and RT, formerly Russia Today (a state-sponsored Russian media company), embeds herself with a Russian military unit in occupied Ukraine and documents the daily struggle of Russian soldiers as they become disillusioned with their country’s war effort and lose sight of what they’re fighting for.
On the latest episode of Ratio’d, Harrison reviews the controversial film and interviews protesters and attendees of the screening.
Watch the latest episode of Ratio’d with Harrison Faulkner!
