Author: Scott Roxborough

Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker and activist, has been fighting against Moscow since before he joined the Ukrainian Defense Forces in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Initially using his camera to document the annexation of Crimea, Sentsov was arrested by Russian forces and sentenced to 20 years in prison on terrorism charges. Through a collective effort led by the European Film Academy, Amnesty International, and the European Parliament, Sentsov was finally released in 2019 as part of a prisoner swap. Despite his time in prison, Sentsov continued to work on films such as “Numbers” and “Rhino,” which…

Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian film director turned soldier, was arrested by Russian forces in 2014 and sentenced to 20 years in prison on false charges. Despite being behind bars, he continued his work, even directing a film titled “Numbers.” Released in 2019 as part of a prisoner swap, he received the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. His latest film, “Real,” offers a raw, unedited depiction of the grim realities of war. Shot as a single take, it immerses viewers in a tense and chaotic battlefield where the lines between heroism and despair blur. Sentsov’s aim with “Real” is…