Sundance Review: 2000 Meters to Andriivka Portrays Unyielding Strength Amidst Conflict

Sundance Review: 2000 Meters to Andriivka Portrays Unyielding Strength Amidst Conflict

      In 2000 Meters to Andriivka, we are plunged directly into the midst of war. Through a first-person perspective, we accompany a brigade of Ukrainian soldiers as they journey to free the village of Andriivka, currently held by Russian forces. Navigating through the forest to avoid mine-laden roads, the troops encounter intense enemy fire. The village lies just over a mile away, serving as a crucial strategic point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

      Directed by Mstyslav Chernov, who previously produced the Oscar-winning 20 Days in Mariupol, he and fellow journalist Alex Babenko accompany these soldiers on their march toward the village. During their movements, they take refuge in bunkers while explosions echo nearby. Occasionally, white text appears on a black screen indicating the distance remaining to Andriivka. As they draw nearer, the situation becomes increasingly dire. Yet even from the start, the landscape is a bleak hell. “There is nothing left over there. Literally nothing,” one soldier remarks about Andriivka. To Chernov’s question, “So what are we fighting for?” he answers, “To rebuild it,” with a hint of hope. This optimism is as striking as any other element of the film, underscoring the soldiers’ resilience.

      Such discussions are interspersed with stark narration from Chernov, where he informs us about the deaths of brigade members, detailing how and where they fell. The film captures battlefield fatalities directly. Viewers are warned that certain images in 2000 Meters to Andriivka are unforgettable. A particularly striking moment features a soldier experiencing shell shock in real time, along with an extended sequence towards the film's climax in which the men discover a cat that survived amid the ruins of Andriivka. Most of the film is presented through the soldiers’ helmet camera footage, adopting a first-person viewpoint reminiscent of video games, which is unsettling in its realism and relatability. For those watching the film, this perspective is all too real, as opposed to fictionalized.

      A foreboding score pervades much of the film, raising the question of its necessity. Composer Sam Slater does commendable work, but it’s difficult to determine whether the music adds to or detracts from the film’s impact. Is there a need for an additional emotional boost in this context? The footage alone conveys so much that the score may risk being excessive. Despite some unforgettable moments, the tone is difficult to shake. The events depicted occurred in 2023, during Ukraine’s effective counteroffensive, while events in 2024 have led to a contrasting situation. Russia’s response to the counteroffensive has resulted in the regaining of significant Ukrainian territory by the enemy. With no resolution in sight and a noticeable disinterest from the international media, Chernov’s narration highlights a pervasive lack of hope. It presents a paradox—the very existence of 2000 Meters to Andriivka is a beacon of hope in itself. Ukraine endures, resilient as ever.

      2000 Meters to Andriivka premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

      Grade: B+

Other articles

Marcello Mio Review: Chiara Mastroianni Pays Tribute to Her Father in a Toothless Meta Satire Marcello Mio Review: Chiara Mastroianni Pays Tribute to Her Father in a Toothless Meta Satire The notorious cover of New York Magazine's December 2022 edition proclaimed that Hollywood is experiencing a “Nepo Baby Boom,” yet this phenomenon is far from limited to the American film sector. A prime example is Christophe Honoré's humorless insider satire, Marcello Mio, a film that seems as if it was designed based on the title of that article––“She Has Lili Reinhart and Cooper Raiff discuss their roles as co-dependent siblings in "Hal & Harper." Lili Reinhart and Cooper Raiff discuss their roles as co-dependent siblings in "Hal & Harper." Cooper Raiff describes Hal & Harper, his independent TV series featuring Lili Reinhart and Mark Ruffalo, as his passion project — as it involves the least amount of compromise. Sundance Review: The Zodiac Killer Project is the Ultimate True Crime Documentary Sundance Review: The Zodiac Killer Project is the Ultimate True Crime Documentary What would a director's commentary for a feature-length film sound like if the film never actually existed? This intriguing and slippery concept is explored in Charlie Shackleton’s remarkable Zodiac Killer Project, where the director talks about his unsuccessful effort to adapt Lyndon E. Lafferty’s book The Zodiac Killer Cover-Up: The Silenced Badge into the first significant documentary on the subject. Stay Out of Trouble! The Former Officer Who Instructed Others on How to Sidestep Drug Raids Stay Out of Trouble! The Former Officer Who Instructed Others on How to Sidestep Drug Raids What occurs when a former Texas police officer known for an impressive track record of drug arrests begins assisting individuals in their battle against the law? The troubling response is revealed in Never Get Busted, an Sundance Review: Rebuilding offers a solemn contemplation on the significance of hope. Sundance Review: Rebuilding offers a solemn contemplation on the significance of hope. We all experience loneliness at times. Even when we are amidst others, we can feel disconnected or alone—immersed in our own thoughts. For some individuals, this sensation is triggered by devastation. The kind that strikes unexpectedly, consumes everything, and leaves destruction in its wake. Many of us witness it on the news, think "how terrible," M. Night Shyamalan Announces Jake Gyllenhaal-Starring Romantic Thriller as His Next Film M. Night Shyamalan Announces Jake Gyllenhaal-Starring Romantic Thriller as His Next Film Recently, Trap departed, marking the return of Josh Hartnett and captivating audiences with the music of Lady Raven. M. Night Shyamalan has now lined up his next film. According to Deadline, this project is a supernatural romantic thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, with a unique origin: Shyamalan developed the story in collaboration with renowned romance author Nicholas Sparks, who is working from "the same concept."

Sundance Review: 2000 Meters to Andriivka Portrays Unyielding Strength Amidst Conflict

In 2000 Meters to Andriivka, we are plunged directly into the chaos of war. Through a first-person perspective, we accompany a brigade of Ukrainian soldiers on their journey to free the village of Andriivka, currently under Russian occupation. As the Ukrainians make their way through the forest, they must navigate carefully to avoid the mines scattered throughout the area.