The Ukrainian director filmed a failed counteroffensive live for a documentary using a GoPro camera on his helmet. This documentary, called “Real,” will premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.
“20 Days in Mariupol” by Mstyslav Chernov showed the devastation of war in Mariupol and won an Oscar. Now, “Real” gives a soldier’s view of the Ukraine war.
“Real” starts suddenly in a trench, with a soldier’s voice calling for help as they are attacked by Russian forces. The voice we hear is the director, Oleh Sentsov, trying to organize the evacuation and resupply of his unit. The film is an hour and a half long, all in one continuous shot from Sentsov’s GoPro, showing the chaos and urgency of the situation.
Sentsov, a filmmaker who has long opposed Russian actions, joined the Ukrainian Defense Forces after the 2022 invasion. He was previously imprisoned by Russia for protesting the annexation of Crimea and was released in a 2019 prisoner swap.
The events in “Real” happened in summer 2023 during a failed Ukrainian counteroffensive. The film’s title comes from the operation’s codename. It was produced by several companies in Ukraine, Croatia, and the UK.
On a break from the front lines, Sentsov talked about the harsh reality of war, the problems not openly discussed in Ukraine, and his belief that victory is still far off.
When asked about his expectations when he first joined the fight, Sentsov said that the reality of war is vastly different from thinking about it, and there’s nothing good about it.
“Real” captures a failed Ukrainian offensive. The day began with attempts to break through Russian defenses, resulting in heavy losses. Sentsov’s unit got trapped, cut off from support and communication. The movie shows the events from 9:30 a.m. for 1.5 hours, though the battle lasted from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sentsov didn’t plan to make this movie. His GoPro was accidentally turned on during the chaos. When he found the footage later, he realized it showed a tragic day worth sharing. He hopes viewers will see the true nature of war, beyond the heroic portrayals often seen in movies.
Sentsov believes the war will last many more years. While some thought the conflict would end quickly, he always believed it would take much longer. He emphasizes the need to face the harsh realities of war rather than live in illusions.
