The film "DAU" received an award at the Venice Film Festival: why this sparked controversy in Ukraine
At the prestigious Venice Film Festival, the film "DAU" was honored with an award. The film's director, Ilya Khrzhanovsky, who was born in Moscow and declared a "foreign agent" by the Russian authorities, dedicated his victory to the residents of Kharkiv during the ceremony.
Despite the director mentioning the Ukrainian city, discussions surrounding the film "DAU" have been ongoing in Ukraine for a long time. Many Ukrainian cultural figures and civic activists criticized the project even while it was being created. The main grievances concerned the director's working methods and ethical issues during the filming, which took place in Kharkiv itself.
Critics of the film note that the filming process was overly harsh and violated the rights of the participants. Many people who took part in the project complained of psychological pressure and inhumane treatment. This is why the Ukrainian community has repeatedly protested against Khrzhanovsky's activities and his methods of working on this large-scale film project.
Currently, the situation surrounding the award remains ambiguous. On one hand, the international community recognizes the artistic value of the work; on the other, Ukrainians continue to emphasize the importance of ethical standards in cinema. This event once again underscores how important the dialogue between art and public morality is.