2000 METRES TO ANDRIIKA

(director/writer: Mstyslav Chernov; cinematographers: Mstyslav Chernov, Alex Babenko; editor: Michelle Mizner; music: Sam Slater; Runtime: 108; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Mstyslav Chernov, Michelle Mizner, Raney Aronson-Rath; A PBS Distribution; 2025-Ukraine/USA)

“A tough watch but is essential viewing.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

A painful account of the 3-year war between Russia and Ukraine, showing so many dead bodies and how ugly war can be. It glorifies Ukraine’s underdog righteous fight for survival after being attacked by the Russian aggressors. The documentary is written and directed by the AP photojournalist and Ukrainian filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov (“20 Days in Mariupol”).

In its heart it’s an anti-war film, as it takes note of the enormous casualties on both sides and how debilitating war is. But it also understands that sometimes war is inevitable.

Chernov follows a small group of soldiers on a 2 km trek to an abandoned bombed-out village, where they raise the Ukrainian flag. The soldiers are from Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade whose mission is to retake the tiny town of Andriivka. This is seen as a crucial step for taking back the Donetsk city Bakhmut, which the Russians won near the start of the war in 2022.

It’s filmed in 2023 mostly by Ukrainian soldiers in combat, using body cameras.

The visceral war film is a tough watch but is essential viewing, as it reveals the fear of the soldiers that there’s no end in sight of the war.

It played at the Sundance Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 6/10/2025  GRADE: A-
dennisschwartzreviews.com