The Euro documentary “Divia” has no dialogue simply music. Its astonishing cinematography is a work of art. It is a panorama of destruction of flora and fauna, man, his environment and his machines of death and destruction. Nature has been wounded but is far from defeat.
If you have watched the documentaries “Russia at War” and “2,000 Meters to Andriivka” you will have witnessed the brutal fighting in Ukraine with the focus on man, machine and technology. While there is footage of destruction in those films “Divia” is more comprehensive and lyrical showing the pristine habitant of Ukraine juxtaposed with its savage defiling. Its pictorial horror at times has a certain artistic beauty a luxury for the viewer and a hell for those humans and animals subjected to it.
All manner of destruction to man, machine, flora and fauna is presented. Rotting corpses of man, marine life and animal, rusted tanks and armoured vehicles, tanks being hit with high explosives, military garbage, bombed bridges, shell casing fragments, land mines, flooded villages, villages on fire, destroyed villages, explosions, huge patches of deforestation and flooded forests.
Yet in all the destruction nature continues the best way she can whether it be sunflowers growing in front of abandoned trenches, a bear swimming in a pond with a huge piece of shell casing seen in the clear pool or pheasants scooting about in tank treads. A sense of resilience imparting some shred of hope that one day Ukraine will be at peace and nature will not have to struggle to repair the damage wreaked upon it.
Divia has a meaning or connotation of something sacred, blessed or associated with deities. If there is anything sacred in this documentary it would the resilience of nature.
Watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1rJanwSsiw
This Ukrainian, Polish, American, Dutch and UK production is directed by Dmiytro Hreshko and will be having its regional premiere on 19August2025 at the Sarajevo Film Festival.
RKS 2025 Documentary Film Rating 94/100.
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