20 Days in Mariupol was one of the most critically acclaimed projects of 2023 that earned a massive 100% approval rating from the brutally straightforward critics at Rotten Tomatoes. Based on all the struggles faced by the besieged city of Mariupol as the Russian invasion began, the documentary/war garnered a lot of fan support.
And now, it has finally been granted its much-deserved Oscar at this year’s Academy Awards 2024. Not only was this win the first one ever for a Ukrainian film, but it was also welcomed with wide hands by the team of the blockbuster war/documentary, along with an incredibly powerful speech that brought many to tears.
20 Days in Mariupol‘s Oscar-winning Speech is Incredibly Powerful
Directed by Mstyslav Chernov, one of the last Ukrainian journalists working for an international outlet in Mariupol, the harrowing real-life first-person account events displayed in 20 Days in Mariupol have set a record by winning an Academy Award, making it the first film to do so.
This is why the team behind the masterpiece was all tears when their name was announced as the winner in the Best Documentary Feature Film category. Nonetheless, Chernov didn’t cease to give the most powerful speech of a lifetime while accepting the accolade at the Oscars 2024. He said:
“I am honored but I will probably be the first director on this stage to say that I wish I had never made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russia never attacking Ukraine, never invading our cities. I wish to be able to exchange this for Russian not killing 10,000 of my fellow Ukrainians.”
Continuing, an overwhelmed Chernov even claimed that he was more than just willing to give up this extraordinary accolade for Russia “releasing the hostages” along with all the Ukrainian “civilians who are now in their jails.”
Mstyslav Chernov Thanks Ukraine in his Acceptance Speech
After letting out his heartiest feelings on how much he would love to swap the Academy Award for his people, Mstyslav Chernov then went on to address the incredibly powerful impact his war/documentary would have on the rest of the world. He said:
“I cannot change history. I cannot change the past. But we all together, you – some of the most talented people in the world – can make sure the history record is set straight and the truth will prevail and the people of Mariupol and those who have lost their lives will never be forgotten. Because cinema forms memories and memories form history.”
Concluding his speech at the Academy Awards 2024, the director of 20 Days in Mariupol had one last thing to say to justify his entire heartfelt acceptance speech: “Thanks to Ukraine.”
You can stream 20 Days in Mariupol on Prime Video.
