It’s been a few horrifying years since Russia shook up Europe yet again, and Ukraine have been defending their land with the help of the West ever since. Boxer-turned-politician Vitali Klitschko is no stranger to violence and chaos, albeit the battles he’s used to are in the ring. As mayor of Kyiv during such unprecedented times, life is extremely busy as he spends his days doing interviews with the press, consoling grieving families of the dead, as well as dealing with criticism of the citizens and indirectly the president.
The Klitschko brothers are very familiar with the threat of Russia taking over Ukraine. They grew up idolising the Soviet Union until it crumbled to the ground in 1991. As the Union collapsed, their minds were no longer corrupted with the propaganda that was spoonfed to them by their government and their militant father throughout their upbringing. It was only once Vitali started to box in the land of the free and the brave when he started to see through all of the lies.
There are some incredible highlights of both of the Klitschko brothers’ boxing careers but the most interesting fight is the indirect political battle between Vitali Klitschko and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the midst of a war with Russia who stand for everything they’re both against.
Directors Kevin Macdonald and Edgar Dubrovskiy crafted this documentary perfectly with the back and forth time-jumps from the present day to the day the Russian invasion started.
A monumental documentary about the war on our doorstep and the end is nowhere in sight.