Ukrainian Director Warns of Looming Totalitarian Threat in Cannes Film ‘Two Prosecutors’

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The acclaimed Ukrainian director, Sergei Loznitsa, is set to attend the Cannes Film Festival again with his captivating Soviet-era drama titled “Two Prosecutors.” This marks a significant milestone as it’s almost a decade since he has competed for the prestigious Palme d’Or. The film will have its world premiere in Competition on May 14.

The movie “Loznitsa’s latest” is a chilling depiction of an individual’s helplessness against the merciless system of a tyrannical and unpredictable government, which was set in a small Soviet town during Stalin’s rule in 1937.

This narrative, as the director explains, resonates eerily with current global events, particularly as Vladimir Putin tightens his grip on dissent during Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine, and as President Donald Trump demonstrates authoritarian tendencies disregarding legal norms. Loznitsa comments to EbMaster that “We can see the past reflected in the present when watching this tale.

The director laments, ‘It appears we’re revisiting an era preceding World War II, and it’s deeply saddening. It’s incredibly regrettable.’ He explains, ‘It seems we haven’t absorbed the lessons from the past, 80 or 90 years ago. This is why I am returning to this topic and presenting a small glimpse of the oppressive regime that appears to be resurfacing — the ominous presence of which is growing on the horizon.’

In the heart of the Great Purge orchestrated by Stalin, I find myself, a fledgling prosecutor named Alexander Kornyev, thrust into a world where justice often takes a backseat. One day, an enigmatic letter catches my attention – it’s written in blood on a makeshift cardboard, slipped anonymously under my door. This secretive prisoner implores me to delve into his case, a plea that stirs something within me, compelling me to unravel the mystery behind this desperate cry for help.

Against all odds set by local party officials aiming to hinder my investigation, I, Aleskandr Kuznetsov (Kornyev), persistently manage to interrogate the man imprisoned, whose body shows signs of brutal torture at the hands of the infamous Soviet secret police, the NKVD. With unwavering Bolshevik conviction and youthful zeal and integrity, I embark on a mission to seek justice for this prisoner – a path that leads me straight into the core of Stalin’s oppressive regime in Moscow.

The movie is based on a novella by Georgy Demidov, a scientist and political detainee who spent 14 years within the Soviet labor camps, known as gulags. After his release, he penned down his ordeals and shed light on “the Stalinist apparatus of oppression in the Soviet Union,” as stated by Loznitsa.

Originally penned in 1969, a time when reading such material could potentially lead to trouble with Soviet authorities, this unpublished manuscript was confiscated by the KGB along with other works of Demidov in 1980. Following his death in 1988, his family managed to reclaim these lost manuscripts, though “Two Prosecutors” would not see the light until 2009. As Loznitsa notes, this story had been waiting patiently for 40 years before it could be shared.

After a nine-year break from fiction films, the director is back with “Two Prosecutors”, following his black comedy “Donbass” which won the best director prize at Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section in 2018. This is his third time competing for the Palme d’Or; he had previously entered with his debut feature, the road film “My Joy” (2010), and the Russia-set drama “A Gentle Creature” (2017). In recent years, he has been busy making a series of well-received documentaries.

As a movie enthusiast, I’m sharing my thoughts on filmmaker Loznitsa, who hails from modern-day Belarus and spent his formative years in Kyiv. Last year, his documentary, “The Invasion,” showcasing everyday life amidst the Russian war in Ukraine, was screened at Cannes. This director, who’s been living abroad for over two decades, admits that recent global events have done little to reassure him about the end of a conflict that has persisted for well over a thousand days. In his own words, “I can’t help but feel we’re still quite a distance from peace.

Although President Trump has shifted U.S. foreign policy to align more closely with Moscow and improved relations with Putin, who was previously seen as a adversary, Loznitsa expresses little hope for a peace deal brokered by Trump. “The events of the past 100 days have astonished many people worldwide, and I think it left a lot of people in disbelief,” he says. “It’s hard to conceive in one’s worst nightmares such an alliance between two authoritarian leaders.

One ruler governs a nation that appears to be re-embracing a regime reminiscent of Stalinism – a nation which violates international law and provokes conflicts with neighboring countries,” he goes on. “Conversely, another leader symbolizes the country historically known for its democratic ideals, not just advocating for legal integrity and human rights, but actively championing them.” He expresses concern that in the future, “these two nations will reach a state of equivalence.

As a child of the Cold War era, I was raised under the shadow of mutually assured destruction, where the threat of nuclear devastation hung ominously, only a phone call or red button’s press away. Throughout my filmmaking journey, I’ve dedicated myself to portraying mankind’s darkest instincts. With this unique vantage point, I offer a somber view on the futility of human endeavors and our persistent inability to heed the lessons from our past.

During the years leading up to the breakup of the Soviet Union, Loznitsa was a scientist at the Kyiv Institute of Cybernetics, focusing on artificial intelligence studies. As advancements in technology continued to impress, he began contemplating once more the potential danger to humanity and the possibility of annihilation.

It’s well-known that dinosaurs once roamed Earth, but they eventually vanished, only to be replaced by new species. This shows us how life adapts and evolves into different forms. The mistake we often make is thinking of ourselves as all-powerful and dominant. However, from nature’s perspective, humans are quite feeble. Despite our claims, we occupy a minuscule spot in this vast cosmic realm.

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2025-05-14 09:42