Militantropos

Militantropos
dir. Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozgoviy/Ukraine, Austria, France/2025/111 min

The film presents Ukraine at war through personal narratives – of those who flee, fight, or rebuild their lives. The titular neologism, combining the Latin miles” (soldier) and Greek anthrōpos” (human), conveys the dramatic psychological and social transformations caused by the experience of war. The creators – in collaboration with philosopher and soldier Oleksandr Komarov – produce a film deeply rooted in the Ukrainian perspective, focused on the everyday lives of people living in the shadow of conflict. The film portrays the human condition amid the shattered realities of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, intertwining the stories of those who flee, lose everything, or stay to resist and fight. It reflects both the instinct to survive and the need for human closeness. Amid destruction and cruelty, humans are absorbed by war, and war becomes a part of humanity. Militantropos” is a collective project: the film crew engages in rebuilding the protagonistshomes, and a foundation established during production supports liberated villages. Shocking footage of destruction and explosions is interwoven with tender portraits of residents, creating a story of suffering, perseverance, and hope. The film opens the trilogy The Days I Would Like to Forget”, with subsequent parts scheduled for release in 2026.

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projection time:
111 min
country/year:
Ukraine, Austria, France /2025
director:
Yelizaveta Smith, Alina Gorlova, Simon Mozgoviy
original language of the film:
Ukrainian, English
pictures:
Viacheslav Tsvietkov, Khrystyna Lizogub, Denys Melnyk
editor:
Yelizaveta Smith, Simon Mozgovyi, Alina Gorlova
production:
Eugene Rachkovsky, Nabil Bellahsene, Justin Pechberty, Damien Megherbi, Ralph Wieser / Tabor, Les Valseurs, MISCHIEF FILMS
festivals and awards:
2025 - Cannes IFF
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