Peter Hames:

Constructed from 13 episodes, Loznitsa’s engrossing drama provides a unique take on one of the most disturbing and threatening of contemporary conflicts. After watching amateur videos posted on the internet, Loznitsa constructed his own screenplay, referencing the format of TV reports and the frequent construction of ‘fake news’. Originally conceived in 2015, after the completion of his Maidan documentary, Donbass is enthusiastically acted, sometimes deliberately theatrical and something of a grotesque tour de force. There is no attempt to ‘explain’ the film’s incidents which focus on the human reactions and prejudices underlying political extremes. The most disturbing scene finds a ‘traitor’ tied to a post, abused and beaten to death. It’s all brilliantly – if harrowingly – imagined, with stunning imagery courtesy of expert cinematographer Oleg Mutu.

Text from KyivPost. See full article here:

‘Donbas’, the raw war drama by director Sergei Loznitsa, is the pick of the Ukrainian Oscars Committee for the Best Foreign Language Film.

“Donbass,” is a drama about the consequences of Russia’s war in eastern Ukraine. It will represent Ukraine at the 2019 U. S.  Academy Awards. The film by the Belarus-born Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa will be nominated by the Ukrainian Oscar Committee to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Oscars.

“Donbass” was co-produced by Ukraine, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Romania. The film premiered at the 71st Cannes Film Festival in May, where Loznitsa won the Un Certain Regard Award for Best Director.

“This film corresponds to some political conjuncture, because it shows the consequences of the Russian aggression. But on the other hand, it’s a very universal drama about the disintegration of a state followed by the disintegration of an individual,”  Husev.

“Donbass” made its Ukrainian premiere at the Odesa International Film Festival in July. It’s North American premiere is scheduled for Sep. 6 at the Toronto International Film Festival. The short list announcement of the Academy Awards nominees is expected in January of 2019, with the ceremony scheduled for Feb. 24, 2019.

Trailer:

Constructed from 13 episodes, Loznitsa’s engrossing drama provides a unique take on one of the most disturbing and threatening of contemporary conflicts. After watching amateur videos posted on the internet, Loznitsa constructed his own screenplay, referencing the format of TV reports and the frequent construction of ‘fake news’. Originally conceived in 2015, after the completion of his Maidan documentary, Donbass is enthusiastically acted, sometimes deliberately theatrical and something of a grotesque tour de force. There is no attempt to ‘explain’ the film’s incidents which focus on the human reactions and prejudices underlying political extremes. The most disturbing scene finds a ‘traitor’ tied to a post, abused and beaten to death. It’s all brilliantly – if harrowingly – imagined, with stunning imagery courtesy of expert cinematographer Oleg Mutu.

Trailer: