20 Days in Mariupol” – Ukrainian Oscar Movie Screened in Islamabad

Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Pakistan is neutral in Russia Ukraine conflict but the date 18 Sep 2024 has a significance as the date 24 Feb 2022 had when Russia invaded Ukraine and the then Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan was with President Putin at Kremlin at the time and date of invasion. 18 Sep 2024 is a date when Russian Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Alexei Overchuk was in Islamabad on official visit and Ukraine Embassy succeeded in screening the Oscar Award documentary movie “20 Days in Mariupol” in Islamabad about Russian invasion of Mariupol city of Ukraine.
Pakistan as the Chair of the Council of Heads of Government of Shanghai Cooperation Organization from 2023 to 2024 is poised to host the summit in the mid of next month in which Russian Prime Minister’s participation is expected. Russian DPM’s visit is in the same connection. At this important juncture the screening of a movie “20 Days in Mariupol” by the Ukraine Embassy Islamabad in collaboration with Alliance Franchise Islamabad is no doubt a success of the Embassy.
Ambassador of Ukraine Mr. Markian Chuchuk along with his team was present at the occasion. To a question from this scribe on the screening of the movie at more places for more audience , Ambassador replied , ” We would love to do that and at a proper time it can be done.”
The movie screening was well attended by diplomats, civil society and media persons who interacted with Ms Vasilisa Stepanenko co-producer and Ukrainian journalist via online. Pakistanis asked questions about her eye witness account there and expressed their interest in the marvelous work done by the team.
According to all available information about the movie , 20 Days in Mariupol was shot inside the besieged port city during the assault by Russian forces, has won the best documentary Oscar at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles USA last year.
It is directed by Mstyslav Chernov, a Ukrainian journalist and Ms Vasilisa Stepanenko was co-producer of the movie. She was available for sharing her observations and experiences of living in Mariupol during the Russian attacks and destruction of a humming city with Pakistani audience. AF Islamabad amicably arranged the movie screening as well as the interaction of Vasilisa Stepanenko with Pakistani spectators on the eve of 18 Sep 2024 when on the other side Russian DPM was having meetings with Foreign Minister, Army Chief and other high officials of Pakistan in Islamabad.
Pakistani guests watched the movie with full attention as the movie has been picturised and the aggression , miseries have been portrayed in such a factual and actual way that grab the spectators from the start to the end of the movie. The movie is expressing to the maximum the hardships of the citizens of Mariupol and indiscriminate bombardment of Russian military on hospitals, markets and residential buildings of the city.