In the fall of 2021, filmmaker Julia Loktev made a significant trip from Brooklyn to Moscow. She aimed to capture the lives of friends facing mounting pressure from the Russian government, which had been cracking down on its independent media. Journalists were branded as “foreign agents,” a label that forced them to disclose their finances and label their work accordingly.
Loktev, who emigrated from the Soviet Union at nine, closely followed Anna Nemzer, a host at TV Rain (Dozhd), the last independent news channel in Russia. She also connected with Sonya Groysman and Olga Churakova, two young journalists who started a podcast called “Hi, You’re a Foreign Agent” to document the challenges they faced. Loktev had envisioned a film about journalists navigating life under an oppressive regime, tentatively titled “The Lives of Foreign Agents.”
However, as she filmed, her documentary evolved into “My Undesirable Friends: Part One – Last Air in Moscow.” The film serves as a sobering testament to the struggles of independent media under Putin’s regime and captures a world that has since vanished. At the film’s outset, Loktev warns viewers that the realities they are about to see no longer exist. Just months later, Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to a mass exodus of journalists and activists.
The film is rife with tension, as the subjects grappling with their uncertain futures sense their freedom slipping away. Groysman poignantly states, “A year from now, we’ll remember October 2021 as Eden.” She and her peers face an uphill battle but are determined to hold onto their journalistic integrity.
Much of the film features these young women, who embody resilience and hope. They share personal moments, like folding laundry or celebrating birthdays, yet their conversations hint at deeper anxieties. Mironova recounts the chilling experience of her fiancé being jailed under fabricated charges. The atmosphere is thick with fear, but their resolve remains strong.
As a sociologist explains within the film, the feeling of being in a “state of war” while those around them remain unaware is a hallmark of totalitarian regimes. This phenomenon resonates beyond Russia; some parallels can be drawn to current events in the United States, where tensions between the government and the press have also amplified.
Loktev points out alarming similarities: from journalists being excluded from the press pool to institutions facing pressure to conform. “We’re experiencing something we have not experienced before,” she reflects, drawing comparisons between Moscow and contemporary issues in the U.S.
“My Undesirable Friends” captures not just the struggle against oppression but also the desire for truth in tumultuous times. Even amidst chaos, journalists continue their vital work. They do this to create a record and maintain a thread of hope for a future where freedom and truth can flourish. Loktev is currently working on a follow-up film that will explore the journeys of these journalists after their exile.
This documentary stands as a powerful reminder of the courage found in the pursuit of truth. It encapsulates the essential role journalism plays in a free society, encouraging audiences to reflect on the importance of independent media worldwide.
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