In this film, the calls are juxtaposed against images of the destruction of Ukraine.

Oksana Karpovych's documentary sets images of the war in Ukraineagainst audio of Russian soldiers phoning their families from the front line. It links the destruction of the nation with those responsible for it, thus highlighting the tragedy of war. But the documentary also shows Ukrainians trying to live relatively normal lives despite the attack on their country.

Tension can be heard in the voices of the Russian soldiers. Their accounts reflect the phases they have gone through during their deployment, from a sense of supposed heroism in response to propaganda, to doubt and subsequent disillusionment. Sometimes the fighters lose their heads, committing looting and other crimes. These diverse recordings reveal the full extent of Russian aggression in Ukraine.

The award-winning and acclaimed film is a powerful document about the dehumanizing power of war. The juxtaposition of images of the war with the intercepted conversations between Russian soldiers and their relatives amounts to a profound reflection on the banality of evil.
 

Broadcasting Hours:

DW English

SAT 15.11.2025 – 10:30 UTC
SAT 15.11.2025 – 21:30 UTC
SUN 16.11.2025 – 04:30 UTC

Lagos UTC +1 | Cape Town UTC +2 | Nairobi UTC +3
Delhi UTC +5,5 | Bangkok UTC +7 | Hong Kong UTC +8
London UTC +/-0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +3
San Francisco UTC -8 | Edmonton UTC -7 | New York UTC -5