Divia | WATCH DOCS

The first documentary to focus entirely on the environmental impact of the war in Ukraine, Dmytro Hreshko’s “Divia” is a powerful visual meditation on nature and destruction. Stripped of dialogue and composed of monumental long shots, the film alternates between moments of natural harmony and the deafening chaos of battle. By revealing the vast devastation of Ukraine’s ecosystems, the filmmakers highlight a rarely discussed consequence of war that will shape life for decades to come. “Divia” exposes another dimension of the Russian invasion, while also honoring those who work tirelessly to mitigate its effects: sappers clearing forests and swamps of mines, teams recovering bodies from inaccessible terrain, and ecologists gauging toxic contamination. Their determination offers a fragile hope for the future, even as the present leaves so little room for optimism. 

Konrad Wirkowski