The Russian Woodpecker

We have all been told the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was an accident. This movie presents a frightening case that it was no accident. By revisiting the available facts and through multiple interviews, the movie leads us through a maze that eventually points the finger at communist politicians in Moscow.

If this incident happened in a vacuum it could be hard to believe. However, if you look at Ukrainian-Russian relations over the past 100 years a pattern develops. In the 1930's a famine orchestrated by Moscow killed millions of Ukrainians. After WWII Moscow orchestrated the execution and exile of many more. Today, we have the instigation and military support of "rebels" in Eastern Ukraine leading to thousands of more deaths. Successive Russian governments have repeatedly shown a callousness to the value of a life, especially a Ukrainian life. Suddenly the case made in this movie follows a shocking but established pattern and provides a warning for all of us.

The Russian Woodpecker was one of the most refreshing documentaries I've seen in a long while. Such an authentically and tightly-told story - but one that doesn't rely on formulaic documentary formats (albeit still unarguably a documentary). Saw a lot of solid docs at Sheffield Doc/Fest this year but this was my total favourite. Whether you're into the themes/subject matter independently or not, this is a great film, a great story and a great lead character. Worth every 80 minutes of its and your time (I think it's about 80 mins). I came away moved and impressed by how they managed to tell such an epic narrative in such a relatable and relatively low-key way, seeing the Ukrainian/Russian situation from a human/personal perspective and beginning to understand it all the better for it.

I am in no way a conspiracy theorist, but I am also in no way familiar with the very disturbing secrets which clearly lie within Russia and its former (and current) annexed nations. This film presents a very harsh, yet realistic possible explanation for why Chernobyl happened. Why a perfectly functioning nuclear plant which fed both the government and the people suddenly melted down catastrophically. Most people have since chalked it up as "just because", as if nuclear reactors sometimes just blow themselves up randomly.

Some may be put off by the filmmaker's unabashedly artistic montages of him in rather avantgarde outfits and scenes, in between heart-stopping clips of him climbing the frightfully high towers that projected the Russian Woodpecker signal, and him attempting to wrangle information out of former Soviet officials. This creativity seeps through to make it more than just another cut-and-dry documentary. The filmmaker himself has a deep personal connection with Chernobyl, and expresses that anger in various artful ways.

I saw this documentary at the Washington DC film festival, and loved it! It is an investigation into the Chernobyl disaster, along with ongoing issues between Russia and Ukraine. It is a suspenseful documentary that draws you in from the first minutes. Fedor, the protagonist, is a very artistic and unique person; he acts heroically in the face of true danger. Fedor is both an artist and an investigator in this film.

The story of how he came to investigate the "Russian Woodpecker," is told thoughtfully by the film makers. I highly recommend seeing this true life, and very relevant, documentary. The cinematography is wonderful as well. I loved this documentary!!!

The premise of this movie made in a documentary format is intriguing, and it is interesting to watch as the theory about the catastrophe at Chernobyl unfolds.

But that's it - interesting theory, no real facts, no reliable sources, no real technical or physical evidence. Not very convincing.

The "genius artist", who came up with the whole idea takes away a lot of the credibility with his artistic nonsensical performance as well.

So yeah, I'm not convinced.