Current:Home > MarketsOscar documentary winner Mstyslav Chernov wishes he had never made historic Ukraine film -AssetLink
Oscar documentary winner Mstyslav Chernov wishes he had never made historic Ukraine film
View
Date:2025-04-12 16:36:40
Mstyslav Chernov may be the first and only Oscar-winning director who wishes he had never made the film that won him Hollywood’s biggest award.
The Ukranian director won the Academy Award for best documentary on Sunday for “20 Days in Mariupol,” a gut-wrenching film that depicts a team of Associated Press journalists who continue to document the Russian invasion of Ukraine despite overwhelming peril.
It marks the first Oscar win for Ukraine, which gained independence from Russia in 1991.
“Probably I will be the first director on this stage who will say I wish I've never made this," a somber Chernov said on the Oscars stage. "I wish to be able to exchange this to Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities, I wish to give all the recognition to Russia not killing tens of thousands of my fellow Ukrainians, I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who are protecting their lands, all the civilians who are now in their jails."
When he came to speak to a room of reporters backstage, Chernov wanted to remind the world of a terrible anniversary and just how important cinema is even in the face of sorrow and survival.
Anniversary of a tragedy
Chernov's Oscar win comes the day after the two-year anniversary of the March 9, 2022, attack on a maternity hospital in the Ukranian city of Mariupol, killing four people and becoming a symbol of some of the worst of Russia's atrocities.
Backstage at the Oscars, Chernov said that "it's a significant moment, it's a symbolic moment, and that moment became the symbol of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Right now, unfortunately, Ukraine and the topic of support in Ukraine became a symbolic bargaining chip for a lot of the politicians in the world," he continued. "I hope I remind everyone with our film that this is a human catastrophe and this is not a political question. It's a human emergency."
More:2023 Oscars shine light on deteriorating condition of imprisoned Putin opponent Alexei Navalny
The responsibility of filmmakers
Asked about the importance of Ukraine's first Oscar win and the significance that it was for "20 Days in Mariupol," Chernov said that it's "quite appropriate" but that he looks forward to the day when war is in the past and his country can win for art.
"Children in Ukraine, adults, civilians, everyone when they are fighting, when they are hiding in basements, when bombs fall, they watch cinema," he said. "They escape in a different world, so there they stay sane and they can survive through this horrifying event. Even lighthearted films help humans get through probably the hardest time in many, many years."
veryGood! (786)
Related
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Who will advance in NHL playoffs? Picks and predictions for every second round series
- Will Taylor Swift attend the 2024 Kentucky Derby? Travis Kelce spotted arriving
- Mega Millions winning numbers for May 3 drawing: Jackpot rises to $284 million
- Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
- Boeing locks out its private firefighters around Seattle over pay dispute
- You’ll Be Down Bad For Taylor Swift’s Met Gala Looks Through The Years
- Biden and Trump offer worlds-apart contrasts on issues in 2024’s rare contest between 2 presidents
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- Stay Bug- & Itch-Free with These Essentials for Inside & Outside Your Home
Ranking
- US wholesale inflation accelerated in November in sign that some price pressures remain elevated
- After Roe, the network of people who help others get abortions see themselves as ‘the underground’
- rue21 files for bankruptcy for the third time, all stores to close
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Dodo
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Amber Alert issued after 2 women found dead, child injured in New Mexico park
- NHL playoffs bracket 2024: What are the second round series in Stanley Cup playoffs?
- 1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
Recommendation
Charges: D'Vontaye Mitchell died after being held down for about 9 minutes
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
Massachusetts detective searches gunshot residue testing website 11 days before his wife is shot dead
Travis Kelce in attendance at 2024 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
Amber Alert issued after 2 women found dead, child injured in New Mexico park
Texas police officer dies after being injured when a tornado struck his home
Book excerpt: The Year of Living Constitutionally by A.J. Jacobs