All language subtitles for Words.of.War.2025.720p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BYNDR

Do you still think
that the world is vast?

That if there is a
war in one place,

it has no bearing on another?

And that you can sit
it out in peace...

ignoring all that you see?

We continue to slumber

as if the war being
fought within our borders

was not already
in its fifth year.

As if Chechnya was
as far from Europe

as the moon.

Come on. Let's go.

Anna Politkovskaya.

I want to see the test results.

That's not our normal procedure.

Well, she's not
a normal patient.

Sorry, are you a relative?

No, I'm her boss.

The results should be here.

I know, because I
printed them out earlier.

You think they got
deleted somehow?

Not only her test results...

there's no record of
her ever being admitted.

You're gonna be okay.

She's a fighter.

Your mother will live.

-What is it?
-We need to get her out of here.

Her records are missing.

You sure about this?

We don't have a choice.

It's not safe here.

They're gonna let her die.

Where are you?

Huh?

Two minutes.

Careful. Stop,
stop, stop, stop.

Is she okay?

-Now hurry.
-Go.

Careful!

Seats.

-Okay.
-Easy, easy.

It's all right.

-Come on, come on.
-Come on now.

Okay, 1, 2, 3.

Watch her head.
Watch her head!

What are you doing?

The hospital in Likhovskoy
is almost 12 hours away.

If something happens,
are any of you trained?

Let's go.

You're gonna be okay, mama.

Transmission's been slipping,
but it should get you there.

You're paranoid.

Goddamn right I am.

Alexei, thank you.

-Thank you.
-Of course. Right.

Let's get her inside, ICU!

Quick as you can.

1, 2, 3, 4.

-Ca... careful.
-Okay.

Okay.

Mind her head.

Papa, they've run
a thousand tests

but they know less
than when they started.

Stupid, stupid woman.

I told you you cannot
keep poking a bear

and expect him not to bite back.

So, this is mama's fault?

No, no, it's mine, it's mine.

Should've fought harder.

Should've stopped her going
to the fucking country.

-I practically cheered her on.
-No.

Hey, sweetheart, listen.

Your mum makes her own mind up.

All you've ever
done is loved her,

just like she loved
you and your brother.

Okay? You think about that.

Darling?

You, you okay?

-Vera?
-Yeah, you um...

you said, "loved".

Sorry. No, I...
I... what I meant...

I'll call you if
anything changes.

Is it okay if I pray?

Hello.

I'm Anna.

Who would like some pencils?

Can I give you
those? Thank you.

Thank you, thank you.

So, what happens to the ones

who don't get adopted?

If we can't place them in a
home before they reach 18,

they're transitioned.

So, forced out just in
time to get drafted.

No one's saying the
system is perfect.

The system doesn't work.

Hello.

My name's Anna.

She won't speak.

We call her "Angela", for angel.

Russian soldiers found her
wandering the outskirts

of Grozny not long after
the invasion began.

They thought she looked Russian,
so they had her brought here.

So, you're Chechen?

Shh.

Sorry.

I like your doll, Angela.

Hmm?

Did something bad happen
to your doll in Grozny?

-Oh.
-Angela!

No. It's...

I'll... I'll get the director.

No, please, please, it's
um... it's all right.

Don't... don't punish her.

Oh.

It was my fault.

I was being too nosy.

Sasha, I... I know.
I'm just saying.

I may be a little...

Yes. I know you're busy.

I'm busy, too. Okay.

Yes, we're busy
people. Right. Yes.

Bye, Sasha, bye, bye, bye.

-CO-WORKER 1: Morning.
-Oh, morning.

Bye.

-You're report.
-Oh, thank you, Pavan.

Thank you.

Relieved.

No. Whoa. Wait, whoa, whoa.

No one is accusing anyone
of corruption, all right?

Our reporters just want to ask
you a few simple questions.

What kind of questions?

Well, uh, for example, how
does 21⁄2 billion rubles

allocated for public
building projects

end up being used
to build villas

in the south of Spain
for a bunch of rich guys?

You know what pisses me off?

Everything?

Well, besides that.

What, besides everything?

-Oysters.
-Huh?

There's a restaurant
in the Italian Alps,

it caters for wealthy Russians.

I've interviewed the owner.

I thought you were
writing about orphans.

Do you realize they have
eight kinds on the menu?

-Orphans?
-Oysters.

Flown in from all
over the world.

Well, what's that got
to do with the article?

Well, the budgets for state-run
orphanages are being slashed.

Kids are going hungry.

No one gives a damn,

and least of all,
the nouveau riche

-who are getting fat off...
-Exotic shellfish.

Yeah, I get it.

What happened to your nose?

Well, doesn't it piss you off?

Well, yeah, it pisses me
off, but what am I gonna do?

I can't find the
Berezovsky file.

And don't let the things
you write about upset you.

They don't.

I start off upset, then I write.

Where did I put
that bloody file?

-Where was it?
-Mm.

What's this?

-Toffee.
-Ugh.

-You don't like toffee?
-I like toffee.

I don't like rat turd.

Well, you should work
for a state-run paper.

I hear the toffees
there are excellent.

Yeah.

I hear the reporters'
salaries are, too.

Why are you here?

I just love spending
time with you.

You want an extension?

Two, three days?

One.

Thank you.

-And it better be brilliant.
-Yeah.

And don't slam the door.

Now, you must be aware

a lot of critics are
calling your book

flagrantly nationalistic.

You say that like
it's a bad thing.

I'm saying like the Soviet
Union dissolved in 1990,

and most people
have since moved on

from the idea of
a grander Russia.

If they have moved
on from land won

and fought for by the
blood of their forefathers,

then they are weak
and they are traitors.

That is an opinion, isn't it?

If you like it,

The Grander Russia
by our guest tonight,

Professor Vorobiev.

Something different tomorrow.
Look forward to seeing you then.

Goodnight.

And wrap.

Holy shit.

Thanks.

Phew.

Where did they find him?

-You were wonderful.
-Oh, yeah?

Your new friend looks
so particularly jolly.

Who, Frankenstein's nephew?

Secret police
stamped on his face?

I don't know why we
get all the attention.

It's not like I'm calling
for regime change live on TV.

Why not?

Because, darling, the man
has only just come to power

and... and it would be impolite.

Well, then... then call
him out for what he is,

an ex-KGB goon obsessed
with lining his own pockets.

That's a great idea.

I remember a time when you
wouldn't have thought twice.

I remember a time when you
knew how to duck a punch.

So, how was your day at the
cold face of truth, my darling?

Well, no one knows what
happened to her parents.

I mean, dead probably.

And she won't say.

And you couldn't
drag it out of her.

One-nil to the orphans.

Not funny, Sasha.

I feel for the girl.
Just being impartial.

You should try it sometime.

Then you wouldn't
be you, would you?

Let's have a look.

Ooh.

She's got a hell of a jab.

Yeah. Well, Putin hit her first.

Apart from your amazing
rapport, how's the piece going?

Oh.

Well, I've got one more
interview, then I will write,

Dimitri will publish,
and nothing will happen.

When Putin was assistant
mayor of Saint Petersburg...

he was banking 25% commission

on thousands of
unauthorized contracts

for food shipments, most
of which came back short

in the middle of
a food shortage.

Well, maybe look for any
links with the local mafia.

Uh, Nestor, anything
new in Chechnya?

I was thinking,

would it hurt to give him
some credit once in a while?

The Chechens started this thing.

What, so they
invaded themselves?

He put down a rebellion.

Barely 12 months later, all
that's left is some mopping up.

In my book, that's
a success story.

Sounds more like a fantasy.

Except I've sat down with
three of Putin's top generals.

Generals? Wow.

Then did you have his
mother on background?

And I was there.

In Grozny?

Wasn't on the list.

So, the army dictates
where you can go

and what you can see.

I mean, why pay someone
to go down there?

Maybe we should publish
the army's press releases

every week. I mean, whoa.

-Think of the savings.
-All right. All right.

-Ignore them.
-Dmitry, I um...

Well, I personally think our
whole approach to Chechnya,

it's... well, it's wrong.

I'm listening.

Well, maybe we should
vary our point of view.

I mean, right now, it's...
it's the Russian army's.

What if it was the Chechens?

Look, I... I don't
mean the rebels.

I've tried.

The... the few civilians
I've met won't talk to me,

because I'm Russian.

What am I supposed to do?

Pretend I'm from Bolivia?

How's your Spanish?

All right.

That's it. Thank you.

She's right, you know?

About Nestor?

He's naive. He'll learn.

He's fucking useless.

And he's left his facts.

He's cheap.

No, if our readers want
to be fed propaganda,

they can read Tass
or switch on the TV.

That's not what we're about.
You know who'd agree with that?

Oh, here we go.

The reason why Gorbachev set up
this paper in the first place

and spent his Nobel
Prize money doing it is

so there'd be at
least one source...

Of honest reporting.

I know.

I'm taking that photo down.

We don't need a war
correspondent down there,

Dmitry.

Everyone's got one of those.

So, what do we need?

Sorry to interrupt.

I read your orphanage piece.

You did a great job.

Thank you.

Oh, wh... I...

I've just been
chatting with Yuri.

Hmm.

And we agree with you.

We don't think we need a war
correspondent in Chechnya.

We need a people correspondent.

Oh, good.

Someone who's um,
sensitive, empathetic,

but also tough-minded and
uh, willing to confront

the powerful by asking
hard questions...

even if it means
pissing them off.

Well, it'll be a week at most.

And... and look, it's my job.

I think it's a great idea.

-Thank you.
-How is it a great idea?

I mean, how is going to
a war zone even close

to a great idea?

Maybe Ilya doesn't
like Chechens.

Who said anything
about Chechens?

What, do you think,
because she's a woman

she can't handle herself?

Oh, and you think
a bullet cares?

I'm going to talk to people,

some of whom happen
to worship Allah,

and write about them.

And papa?

I mean, he's okay with this?

Absolutely.

That's the stupidest
fucking thing

I've ever heard in my life.

Did you know that the war
between Russia and Chechnya

is the longest ongoing
conflict in the world?

-I didn't. Did you...
-Fuck's sake. Hey!

-Oh, God.
-I'm your husband, okay?

I'm the father of your kids.

I love you.

And I... I... I... I
need you to stick around.

So, no, it's not happening.

You call Dmitry tomorrow,

you tell him you've
changed your mind.

Right? Right?

Have you finished?

I'm going, Sasha.

I'm going.

Oh, fuck. Christ.

Come on then, listen.

Listen, you give a
copy of your passport

and your itinerary to Dmitry.

No. In fact, to both of us,
and you don't go anywhere,

not... not one yard off,

where we've seen written
down that you're going.

-Yes?
-Yes, right.

Okay?

Jesus Christ, you're not
going to fucking Disneyland.

People are killing each
other. Do you understand?

They're shooting each other.
They're blowing each other up.

You get in the middle and
then you're fucking dead, too.

Right.

-No, don't...
-Sasha, I...

No, don't Sasha me.

You promise me
you'll be careful.

I promise you that
I'll really be careful.

Shh.

Oh.

Captain Turgenev,

you know as much as I'd
like to submit an article

about the back of your head,
it... it... it would be helpful

if we could stop
and talk to people.

Yeah, it would be, but we
stop in Khiris, not before.

Yes?

You know, maybe we
don't stop at all.

Anna, get out!

Come on!

Come on!

Stay down!

First time in action?

Pretty cool, huh?

What's happening?

-Stay down!
-Okay, okay!

Stop shouting.

Moving clear!

-Good.
-Thank you.

...the battle in
Grozny is now underway.

The Russian Army
Commander has declared

that anyone remaining in
the city will be considered

a legitimate target for
artillery and air strikes.

Uh, come on, not again.

You can ignore him
if you want to.

Well, she's not the only one

who's been to a
war zone, you know?

Hmm, dad.

We were all lined up
behind a church wall.

-It's blowing up bit by bit.
-Come on, dad.

-Papa, come on.
-Excuse me.

How many times?

It's fine everybody's
heard it, it's a classic.

I have heard this
story nine times now.

So, and the machine
gunfire's like coming

through the belly of all that.

And they stopped and
this guy jumps out

and he goes, "Don't shoot,
man, we're journalists!

I'm from the New York Times."

And the guy says, "Oh no,
I hate your crosswords!"

-Blows the whole place up.
-There you go.

I would be so frightened.

You probably weren't
frightened at all.

Uh, I think I actually
pissed my pants.

-Sasha!
-I did.

So, who is the scariest
person you've ever met?

Um, I wonder...

Asshole.

Was it? I thought it was pork.

-Oh, no.
-I bet you're all glad

she isn't going
back to Chechnya.

Awkward.

No.

What's this? We need this
moving now, faster, come on.

Come on, people!
Let's move it along!

Let's go, now!

Come on! Faster, guys, faster!

The entire city
is being emptied.

They go to camps
near the border.

Excuse me?

Excuse me, would you talk to me?

Uh, where were you...

Look, I'm a journalist.
Could you talk?

I'm just try... Why
won't anybody talk to me?

Look.

What's happened?

The Russian Army.

What? Could you explain?

-What?
-Mm.

Please, what...

I just want to help.

I just want to help.

I'm just... Look, I'm... I'm...

Fuck this. Fuck.

-Hello?
-Dmitry?

-Anna?
-Dmitry?

Can you hear...

It's...

Oh, shit!

Hey, can I ask you something?

I thought a reporter's job was
to report and not help, huh?

In the case of
Russian reporters,

to spoon feed whatever
version of the truth

the Kremlin deems fit.

Well, that might
be true for some.

But not all.

The paper I work for believes
that people deserve the truth,

not lies.

They're choking on lies.

Oh, you think the truth
will go down easier?

Would you talk to me?

I took the word of a
Russian reporter once.

I swore never again.

Please!

Politkovskaya! Let's
go. Time to go.

Go without me.

What did you say to me?

I'm staying.

There's one thing
lies between you

and these vicious
Chechen dogs...

...the Russian Armed Forces.

The forces concerned
for my welfare,

you know, it's touching.

But I don't see any
dogs on this road,

vicious or otherwise.

What I do see is people
desperate to flee Grozny.

Now, why?

I don't know.

Suit yourself, but
you're on your own.

In the vehicle, let's go!

I am... I could
do with a drink.

Look, I have to be sure
what I've just done

isn't gonna get me killed.

As I can't be sure, I
have to assume the risk.

I'm Anna Politkovskaya,
by the way.

Anzor.

If you really want to
report the truth...

I'll show you difficult
things for you to see.

Great.

Can we go now?

You've entered the black hole

of the world, Anna.

No light or truth
escapes from here.

Hello.

How do they survive?

This is...

Hi, hello.

My name is Anna.

What's your name?

Please, who are you?

What you do here?

It's okay. This is
Anna Politkovskaya.

-She wants to tell our story.
-Russian?

Yes, I'm Russian.

I'm a journalist from
the Novaya Gazeta.

I know people like
you are liars.

She's different.

What is your name?

Fatima.

Would you talk with me, Fatima?

Please?

If I talk, you tell
my story and no lies.

I promise.

Thank you.

Come.

Would it be okay
if I recorded you?

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Just put that there.

Vakha loved me.

Never in his life did he
hurt another human being.

I could always make him laugh.

That's what he loved about
me, my sense of humor.

Most men, they want to
be the funny one but...

Vakha didn't care.

When they found his body...

he had been shot several times.

Both ears cut off
and kept as trophies.

I'll tell you who does this.

Russians.

I'd go home immediately.

But everything's gone.

They destroyed my house.

There's nowhere I can go.

They killed my husband.

My kids have no father.

I am freezing and terrified.

No one cares about us.

No one will help us,
we're here all alone.

The war's taken everything.

"When they find out
you're a reporter,

they cling to you, as
if you are a magician,

as if something essential
depended on you.

This war is not being fought
to rein in a rogue republic.

This war is being waged

to advance the interests
of one person...

a president intent on
becoming the type of leader

that Russia thought it
had left in the past,

a vain, brutal,
power-hungry authoritarian."

Jesus.

Well, you said you were
gonna be tough on him.

You've dropped a
bomb on his doorstep.

I was aiming for his lap.

You're set on blowing up
the whole damn operation.

Oh, well, then I'll
add something about

what a good father is

and how much his generals
give to charities.

The hospital burns ward.

Move it up to the
first paragraph.

Tone down the gore.

Other than that,
don't change a word.

We're gonna publish part
of your report each week.

Thank you.

Before Putin, you know how
Russians felt about themselves.

He made it okay for us to
love our country again.

Some of us never stopped.

We are hurtling back
into a Soviet abyss.

An information vacuum
that spells death

from our own ignorance.

If you choose to be a
journalist in Russia,

you have to accept the risk.

Happy birthday.

I'm sorry, I... I can't be...

What, something...

Uh, Ilya, sorry.

Really bad, bad signal.

Did... did you get
the present I sent?

Yes.

It's a Sufi saying.

It's beautiful, mama, but I um,

I don't know what it says.

"Only from the heart
can you touch the sky."

What's that noise?

Are those bombs?

Howitzer fire.

The 120th are making a push

so Putin has something to brag
about before the election.

Well, it sounds close.

I don't know. I'd say
it's 5 kilometers away.

Yeah.

Uh, hold on.

There we go.

Step out of the car.

Is there a problem?

Step out of the car.

-Let me call you back.
-No, mama, wait.

-Sorry.
-Move. Come on.

Please, can you explain
what the problem is?

-Hey.
-So, where are you taking us?

Shut the fuck up!

Journalist.

Yes, I'm a journalist and
I'm certified to be here.

But please, please read.

Can you not touch...

Oh!

Oh, oh, God.

Oh.

Fucking bastards.

You should write a report.
They could've killed you.

They're nobodies.

I'm not gonna open people's
eyes by feeding them nobodies.

Well, next time, Anna, some
nobody is likely to break more

than your tape recorder.

Hey.

-Great ratings last night.
-Yeah.

Best of the series.

Yesterday's news now.

Your wife, she's making
quite a name for herself.

Pfft.

Well, she raised the kids

while I made a name
for myself, so...

Yeah, it's only fair.

A bit reckless, don't you think?

She says she's well aware
of the danger she's in, so.

But are you?

What's gonna happen to me?

She could poke my
eye out with a brush.

Have a great show.

Sorry.

Stuck at work.

She's on a mission.

Uh, it's not easy for any of us.

No, all right, well...

Well, what if you'd found
out that for the past year

instead of running off
to Chechnya all the time,

she was running into
the arms of another man?

I mean, h... how, how
would you feel then?

Like sharing?

They shouldn't have
sent her to a conflict.

She's a people correspondent.

She loves people.

It's who she is.

-Finished, sir?
-Thank you.

You know, today in her column,
you know what she called him?

A gangster.

That's your mum.

Beautiful, tender,

and with all the
tact of a T-90 tank.

People are starting to notice
how much she hates him.

She hates what he's doing.

She hates the war.

Almost as much as
she loves Chechens.

Hey, we're here to enjoy
ourselves, remember?

Drink.

Were you never tempted
to join the rebels?

You know, Anna, one
day I'd woken up

and a war had broken out.

Yes, most of my friends,
they joined the rebels,

but I didn't hate the Russians
enough to kill them, so.

You know, some people think
the only way to end the war

is by winning it.

May I say you end
the war by ending it.

Oh, oh.

We can't talk about
something else?

We have a guest in our home.

The war can wait.

-I didn't give you a drink.
-But I was...

Come, come, come. I told
him to give you a drink.

Mama, you said do the plate.

This is Amina, Zarina,
Amir, and Khava.

Come, come, come. So
tonight, as a family, we eat.

-Oh.
-And we drink.

Oh. Thank you.

You know, it smells amazing.

Oh, Anna, you're in for a treat.

My mother, she makes the best
jijig-chorpa in Chechnya.

Hey, hey. Who raised you, huh?

-Wolves? Leave it.
-Mama.

Ah.

Oh, Natalya.

-Delicious.
-I picked it.

I cleaned it. I cooked
it all by myself.

Mama. I did nothing.

You did nothing. You
never do anything.

I'm the one who picked it,

-so I don't know what...
-That's a lie.

All right.

Don't listen to them.

They're liars.

Well, I want to make
a toast to Anna.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

For bringing hope and light
to the Chechen people,

for keeping your promise.

And I promise that I'll
continue to keep it.

To Anna.

-To Anna.
-Mm.

You see?

My cousin, Anzor, is
her personal driver.

They are very famous.

Isn't the target on
my back big enough?

Time for sweet things, huh?

Yeah.

Have you ever met
any of these men?

Never.

They're Chechen civilians
who disappeared on

or around January the 2nd.

Now, I've been in contact
with people from their village

who allege that members of your
militia unit detained these men

and then over a series of days,

and under your
strict supervision,

subjected them to torture.

Do you know this man?

Salambek Turamov.

Our sources allege that
you tortured Salambek,

before you dragged him to a cell

at the October district
offices and killed him.

Do you care to comment?

You're accusing me of murder?

Salambek's parents are.

Take down this statement...

"I am an officer in the army
of the Russian Federation...

not a murderer."

But write your little story.

No one will read it beyond a
few liberal faggots in Moscow.

It's true,

we don't have the number
of readers of other papers,

but you see,

there's only one number
that matters to me,

and that's the number of
prosecutors needed to bring

charges of first-degree murder

against an officer
of the Russian Army.

And that number is one.

I think we're done
here, aren't we?

You do know I could
slit your throat

and let you bleed
out like a pig?

Thank you for taking the
time to talk to me, Major.

Now, if you don't mind,
my driver is expecting me.

-Good morning.
-Morning.

Uh, what happened to my desk?

It's well... well, it's neat.

Oh, it's uh, probably
the new intern.

She just showed up.

She was a cub reporter
for a local newspaper.

Says she wants to be
a proper journalist.

Yeah, well, she wants to
stay away from my desk.

I like you pissed off.

That's how I want you to
address the Security Council.

Oh. Thank you.

I'm Anna.

I know.

What are you doing right now?

Um, I'm making coffees.

Well, you're not gonna
learn how to be a journalist

doing that. Okay?

I want you to help me draft
our statement to the UN.

Call Natalya, tell her
that you work for me.

I want a list of every
complaint against Russian troops

in Chechnya in the
last six months,

and then plan to spend the
rest of the day making calls.

Oh, and uh, I'll
have a tea, no sugar.

I dislike Putin, because
he despises his people.

He sees us simply as
a means to his ends,

a means for the achievement
and retention of power.

He believes he can do
with us as he sees fit.

"Because we are nobody.

While he who chances and
able to clamber to the top.

Is today Czar and God.

In Russia, we have had leaders
with this outlook before.

Led to tragedy, to
bloodshed on a vast scale,

and to civil wars."

"I do not want that.

So, I dislike this
typical Soviet Chekist."

Or a member of the
old secret police.

I know what Checkist means.

Only no one else
outside Russia will.

Well, if... if I'd have
known the Associated Press

were gonna pick it up,

well, then, I would have
phrased it differently.

"I don't like this
typical Soviet Chekist

as he struts down the red carpet

of the Kremlin throne room
as if he actually owns it.

The gold is polished and shines.

Servants smile obediently.

Comrades, former KGB colleagues

promoted way beyond
their limited talents

by his, assume a dignified air."

Jesus Christ.

Well, it's powerful,
Putin as emperor.

Someone had to
say it, I suppose.

Maybe someone in a
position of power

will take five minutes
out of their busy day

and look up Chechnya on a map.

What? What are you looking at?

Hmm?

Nothing.

Oh, thank you.

Excuse me, do you mind?

Nope, nope.

You're a writer.

Hmm.

It's just a guess.

You've got that haunted look of
someone with a deadline to meet.

I wish I could write.

I'd write about history.

The old czars, Ivan, Peter.

I mean, nowadays, you can
say what you want about them

and no one seems to
care, but back then...

And you had to be bloody careful
what you said about the church.

It was all in the Stoglav.

Do you know what that was?

It was a record of the czar's
questions to the clergy

and their responses.

It established the
code of canon law.

And what writers were
allowed to express.

These are amazing.

I can see why you come
here every morning.

What are you?

You need to stop.

Stop what?

Criticizing the czar?

Understand, it makes
no difference to me.

Me, personally, I
enjoy your column.

I look forward to it.

Your passion, your
concern for humanity,

your fondness for
the Chechen people...

all of that is commendable.

But it doesn't change
your situation.

And what is my
situation exactly?

Been nice to meet you.

Morning.

-Good morning.
-Hi.

Oh, come on.

Oh, Gregor. Hi.

Yeah.

-I'll be a minute.
-Sasha.

-What have they done?
-Sasha?

Yeah.

I need to have a
little chat with you.

Well, now? I'm late.

Come with me, my friend,

because this is completely
out of my hands.

-Hey.
-Hey.

-What's wrong?
-Nothing.

-Who is that?
-He...

It's no one.

-Leave it, Ilya...
-But why is he staring at you?

I... I don't know.

Just come on. Ilya.

Ilya, leave it, please.

Hey!

Oi!

Oh, Ilya, he's gone.

Ayi, yai, yai.

Oh.

This place is a mess.

I've been back a week.
I... I can't get into it.

No, it's his mess.
He should clean it.

Your father, well, he's...
he's having a hard time.

He hates not working.

Look, stop making
excuses for him.

Look, look, look, Ilya.

Hey.

It's okay.

No, it's not okay, all right?

It's... it's... it's not.

None of this is okay.

Not papa, not strangers
stalking you in the street.

Oh, oh...

Probably the unhinged
subject of some article

you've written who
now has it in for you

or the fact that, for
the past two years,

I've woken up every morning

and wondered if today
is gonna be the day

that I get a call from
someone telling me

my mother's been found
in a ditch, right?

It... it... it is
all so not okay.

Ilya...

Oh.

Thought it was you.

Hi.

Hello. Welcome home.

Are you uh, you gonna
stay for dinner?

No.

Oh, Ilya.

Ilya!

Why is he upset?
What did you say?

What'd you say to him?

You know, as much as I
love working all day then,

oh, doing the shopping and
then, ooh, making dinner,

it would be nice

if maybe you did
it for a change.

Yeah, I'm busy! I'm
doing something.

-Doing what?
-I'm logging the death threats.

Why?

Oh.

-Sasha.
-Talking of which,

your favorite war
criminal called today.

I saved it for
you. Here you go.

Hear that?

You're dead.

I'm gonna cut your tits off and
feed them to the beast dogs.

Yeah?

Last time, it was your uterus.

Something tells me
mad Major Lapin's

got serious mommy issues.

No one's asking you to do this.

We need a record.

And anyway...

what else am I gonna do?

Have you written any
more query letters?

I've written plenty
of letters, all right?

No one's writing back.

You will. It's just
a matter of time...

-It's...
-And it will happen.

It's just like the old days.

Can't you feel it?

It's like someone's
pried open Stalin's crypt

and the stench is in the air.

What about Vasily?

-Have you called him...
-Please don't.

Just...

They're all shit scared of him.

Big joke. They're not
even trying to get to me.

-Sorry. I'm so... I...
-No, no. No.

I've got to make dinner.

Sorry.

Excuse me, can I help you?

I need to speak to Anna,
Anna Politkovskaya.

One minute.

Excuse me? Hey.

You can't go here.

Stop him.

What's going on?

Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

You need to have an
appointment here.

You can't just barge in here.

-You're s...
-Hold on, hold on.

It's okay.

You know this guy?

I've seen him around.

Can I help you?

Army?

Lance corporal. Semenov, Ivan.

5th Army, Motorized
Rifle Brigade.

You fought in Gudermes?

You guys took heavy casualties.

They took more.

Look,

I know you want to
tell me something,

because you've
been following me.

They lied.

They said it was for rubbish.

Right. Ivan, come with me.

-It's okay. Please.
-Anna...

Let him go.

Dmitry, I'm okay, honestly.

Please, this way.

Follow me.

-You sure?
-Positive.

Take a seat.

We dug the trench, me and
some guys from my squad.

It was the staff sergeant
who said they planned

to bury rubbish in it.

I had no reason
not to believe him.

The next day, a bunch of special
forces showed up at the camp.

They were ethnic Chechens

who'd fought against
the Russians at first,

then switched sides.

I couldn't figure out
why they were there.

Then a large group
of non-combatants

was herded out of the camp

and marched towards
the edge of the trench,

the one we'd dug to
bury the rubbish.

The special forces were
waiting with their rifles.

The camp was
dismantled a week later

and went away without a trace...

an entire camp.

Do you um,

do you think you
could draw a map?

You promise not to
publish my name?

If you promise you're not lying.

Anna.

You know, the whole time it
has been right under my nose.

What?

The camp that Corporal Semenov
was assigned to, you know?

He reckons there's over two
hundred bodies buried there

and according to him,

the same thing is happening
all over the region.

You know, if this checks
out, you know what this is?

Yeah.

-You're not going down there.
-Why not?

Because you're due to
address the Security Council

in five days.

Well, that can wait.

Oh, for God's sake, Anna!

You have been invited
to bear witness

by the British delegation to
the United Nations, right?

It is not some nail
salon you can call up

and change an appointment
anytime you want.

Look, Semenov came to me,

because I'm the only
one he can trust.

No. He trusts this newspaper!

And that is who you work for,

not the other way around.

Oh.

Okay. I... I get
it. I get it, okay?

Chechnya's your baby.

Well, this newspaper is mine.

And it certainly isn't
because of the money.

I could earn twice as
much anywhere else, right?

But then I'd be in
the bullshit business.

And that is why I was so happy

when the invitation
came from the UN.

I saw Kofi Annan's signature
and I thought, "Okay.

Maybe we are doing
something right." Okay?

And by we, I don't
mean you and me.

I mean every single person
who has ever walked through

that door and given a damn.

Okay?

Hey, hey, hey!

-Hey, hey, hey.
-Someone... there's someone here.

I came here with a speech

about an illegal occupation

and its devastating effects
on civilians in Chechnya.

But in the last 48 hours,
I have received evidence

that confirms
systematic mass killings

on a scale I could
never imagine.

The site contains over a
150 murdered civilians,

many of whom were found
with their hands tied

behind their backs
with barbed wire

and many showing
signs of torture.

We expect many more
mass graves to be found.

Now, the Kremlin is
doing everything possible

to keep this a secret.

It wants the world to believe
that Russia is waging a war

against terrorists, when in fact

its real purpose is a
dedicated campaign of genocide

against the people of Chechnya.

Yes, sir. I saw it.

Understood, sir.

Yes, thank you.

People can pay with their lives

for saying out loud
what they believe.

Just talking to me can
put someone in danger.

Where is he?

He's not here.

No. No, no, no. He's not here.

He's in Regita.

Come back. He's not here!

Where are you going?

Oh my God. Leave him. Leave him.

Don't go after him.

Leave him alone!

Please!

On your knees.

Mm.

Hey, The Godfather's
on in a bit.

Ah. Well, shame we'll miss it.

Well, we could always
get room service,

stay in like the old days.

Well, um, and when they ask me

why I didn't turn up
to receive my award,

I'll say, "Oh.

Well, there was an
old movie on the TV

-and I wanted to watch."
-It's not an old movie.

It's The Godfather.

You love The Godfather. I've
just been pretending to.

Now, get ready.

Hi.

Anzor has been arrested.

What?

They have taken my son.

Well, where have they taken him?

What?

What?

Everything all right?

Let's go.

Yeah.

Thank you.

No, it's not like
the old days, is it?

When we started out,
if you won an award,

you had to get yourself killed

or at least, lose a couple
of legs or something, right?

They'd put a picture
up on the newsroom

of a coffee machine that
said, "Never to be forgotten."

Next person in they'd
be, "Who's that?"

Right?

And now for the final
award of the evening.

The Global Award for
Human Rights Journalism

was established to recognize
the immense importance

of journalists around the world.

This year, the award goes
to Anna Politkovskaya.

Yeah!

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

War has two sides.

I say it has three.

The innocent civilians
caught in the middle

of what I can only describe
as a medieval, brutal war.

And I would like to
dedicate this award

to those extraordinary,
brave people.

Sorry, if I embarrassed
you, all right?

I'd had a few glasses of wine.

Oh, good, Sasha.
Blame the wine.

Jesus, everybody
loved you, all right?

Everybody loved your speech.

How long are you
gonna stay angry for?

Look, it's stained on it...

No, this is not about the dress!

-With the water.
-This...

this is about you

and how you wallow
in your self-pity.

Oh, uh, uh, uh, when
I try and help you,

you resent me like you
resent everything I do.

I have no idea what you're...

-what are you talking about?
-Look, you... you were a star.

You got the treatment everywhere
you went, including at home.

And then the
unthinkable happened.

Your wife stopped
playing second fiddle.

Yeah, the... this, it's
so far from the mark.

-It is so wrong.
-I'm right!

Yeah. Uh, you're
right about anything.

I mean, you're always fucking
right about everything,

aren't you?

I mean, you're right
about not liking sitting

at home doing
nothing. You're right.

I don't like sitting about
with nothing to do for years.

And whose fault is that?

Uh, it's not mine, is it?

-Obviously...
-I mean, is it?

-It's not.
-So...

So, you're blaming me like
you blame me for everything.

Who the fuck else is to blame?

-No.
-No, I'm... I'm... I'm sorry.

Look, Sasha, Sasha, I...
I don't care anymore.

May I take your bag, sir?

Yes, please.

I um, I spoke to Vasily.

He's gonna let me crash there
just for a little while.

That's good for Vasily.

How long you sticking around?

I think a few more days.

There's people here.

I, uh...

Listen...

you're a better writer than me.

I know that's not
easy for you to say.

Hello?

They uh, beat him...

and then left him to die
like a piece of rubbish.

Oh, Maaret.

They've taken everything.

A brother, my
husband, my children.

That's all war does, takes.

And it's never enough.

Two centuries of taking,
it still wants more.

I'm so sorry.

You know, if you
two do get tired

of watching this extremely
long costume drama

in which literally
nothing actually happens,

I think there's a
football game on.

No?

Okay.

No one is reporting
on the terrible impact

of the war.

The tactics employed
by the Kremlin

to suppress so-called terrorism

is itself creating
a wave of violence

the like of which has
never been experienced.

Get the fuck off the stage!

Move it fucking now!

You're all going to die

unless you do exactly as we say.

Call your loved ones.

Tell them you have
been taken hostage

by the Reconnaissance
and Sabotage Battalion

of Vedeno.

Right, does anyone
want anything?

-I'm good, thank you.
-Ilya?

Nikolai Agapov reporting live

from the Dubrovka
Theater in Moscow,

which has been taken over
by Chechen terrorists.

-Oh my God.
-...to detonate bombs.

Just after 9:00
p.m. this evening,

-dozens of heavily...
-Turn it down.

...Chechens stormed
the theater...

So, who is this?

Egorov, the Russian Federation.

What do you want?

I'm calling to tell you
what the terrorists want.

And that is?

You.

Me?

Yeah, to mediate negotiations.

According to their leader,
you're the only Russian

that the entire Chechen
population trusts.

I need you to come to the
Dubrovka Theater immediately.

When you get there,
you will ask for me,

and one of my men
will escort you

to the command center.

Okay.

Mama?

They um, they want me to
help with negotiations.

Over the phone, right?

No.

-Oh my God.
-A woman in her 40s

murdered while attending
a theater show.

So, these are the people you're
supposed to talk sense to?

A... a... and you're supposed
to go in there and do what?

Make them see the fucking light?

Ilya, if there's anything I
can do to help, then I will.

Of course.

That's all I've ever
heard my entire life.

The innocent, and the powerless

-and how much they need you.
-Ilya, Ilya.

-Yeah, it never ends, ma.
-Ilya, Ilya, listen to me.

No, because this is the world!

And the world will never run out
of victims no matter what you

or anyone else
does to change it.

So tell me, mama,
where do we fit in?

-So, no, no...
-This is not about you!

So, tell me!

I mean, granted, we're only
your flesh and blood, right?

Yeah, we're not full fucking
members of the Wretched

-and Exploited...
-Oh.

-Ilya, I...
-No, no.

Ilya.

You're not going.

You're not.

You're staying right here.

-It's her choice.
-No, no.

I'm not watching you die!

Listen to yourself.

Mama, please be careful.

I've sent Marta
and the metro team.

I'd love to assign you, but
it looks like you're busy.

Now do me a favor, try
not to piss anyone off.

I know it's hard for you.

Oh, I'll try.

You'll never get a cab.

That was a friend in DC,
it's all over the news there.

My contact in London
says the same.

Well done, lads. You
hit them big time.

Why are you doing this?

You're not a parent.

Maybe someday
you'll have children

and... and when you do,

your children will
look at the world

that you have handed them

and... and they will judge
you, not whether you,

you succeeded in making
the world a better place

or didn't make the
world a better place,

but it...

They will judge you
on how hard you tried.

This is as far as I go.

Said I'd take you to them,
but I'm not handing you over.

Go, mama.

No one interrupt.

Sir?

Thank you for coming, Anna.

So, you're not going in
there to report or observe.

No public statements,
no interviews.

You keep your mouth shut
and you keep your opinions

to yourself until the
situation is resolved.

And then I'm free to say
whatever I like, hmm?

Lieutenant Colonel Egorov.

Well, that's entirely up to you.

The leader's name
is Musa Barayev,

a well-established
Chechen separatist.

We estimate 30-plus
terrorists and 800 hostages.

The children are still inside,

getting them out should
be your main priority.

We've also been able to tap
into the theater's CCTV cameras,

mainly focused on the
entrances and exits,

so we should have visual
on you most of the time.

But if anything does go wrong,
there's not a lot we can do.

Oh, we have a flak jacket.

There's no need.

They've killed two
hostages already.

They're savages.

You trust savages?

Well, if they are savages,
then a flak jacket

isn't gonna be much
help to me, is it?

Shall we?

Ma'am.

She's going in.

She's completely alone.

She'll be fine.

How much time do your men need?

Two to three hours.

Copy, she's in.

Give the order.

Sir.

Hello?

Hello?

Hello.

I am Abu Bakr.

I'm Anna.

It is an honor to meet
you, Anna Politkovskaya.

Back home they write
songs about you.

One claims you are the
bravest woman in Russia.

I'm here to see Barayev.

Of course.

Come with me.

What the fuck? What...
what the fuck is this shit?

Are you guys stupid?

Take this...

Fucking imbeciles.

Tell your readers we
are not jihadists, okay,

in spite of what some
would have you believe.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

They're children under 13.

You made a deal.

You need to let them go.

Okay.

Okay.

All children under 13 years old,

line up on the
stairs with me now.

-Is this your wife?
-Yeah, she's diabetic.

-There we go.
-Thank you.

Children.

Come.

We've gone past the
point of no return.

Either the war stops now
or we blow up the hostages.

Well...

And that's your message?

Look, I understand.

I know the situation in
Chechnya is intolerable.

Let me help you make a deal.

There must be an immediate
halt to all security sweeps.

If he agrees, the
older children can go.

And what's to stop him resuming
sweeps in two days, huh?

If you let the children go,
it's a gesture, Abu Bakr,

and I'm telling you,
it's an important one.

She wants to talk to you.

Thank you.

He says you need to call
off the security sweeps.

First he releases
those 13 and over,

then I'll order a halt in
all districts except Vedeno.

First, he says you have to
let the older children go.

Anna.

Fatima.

Ah, we've come a long way.

On very different paths.

You choose words,
I choose action.

These men...

...they're using you.

You're wrong.

These are good men.

They fight for a great cause.

Your husband, if he was
alive, well, he would...

would he stand with them?

Men who prey on the
vulnerable, who...

who give them no
choice, but what,

to murder innocent people
in the name of what?

Peace?

Cover your face, Fatima.

Leave with me now.

Beg the court for mercy.

It's the only way you're
gonna get out of here alive.

All right.

The rest of the children can go.

And the women?

Maybe.

You need to go.

And you need to keep on talking.

Otherwise, how is
this going to end?

When Chechnya is free.

That's when this will end.

Goodbye, Anna.

What the... No.
What... not that...

No. Get, get...

The fuck is going on?

Alpha team storming
the building.

Christ, the war has come home.

What was that?

No, what?

-No, get, get...
-It's all right.

-It's all right.
-Get off!

Let her go.

Wh...

What the hell have you done?

You used me.

You used me to stall for time.

We each have a job to do, Anna.

We saved a lot of innocent lives

and a few Chechens
are put to sleep.

Job well done.

I understand it
was the president

who came up with the
idea, but don't quote me.

Look, you're maniacs.

You're... you're
all fucking maniacs.

So, you're accusing

the president of murder?

Last month he ordered the use

of chemical weapons
on civilians,

a 170 people died.

So, w... w... what,
what would you call it?

It was an opioid-laced
gas, correct?

Fentanyl.

A tranquilizer used to
make people fall asleep.

Not to kill them.

You see these people?

Now, they're civilians,
not terrorists,

and they are not sleeping.

Fentanyl causes
respiratory depression.

Now, the victims should have
been turned on their sides in...

in order to keep
their airways open.

Instead, they were
left on their backs,

ensuring they asphyxiated.

Now, as you can see,
the ER personnel

are completely
caught by surprise

at the number of victims
needing their care.

Now, if they had been
informed ahead of time...

-Wh... why weren't they?
-Secrecy.

See, our team uncovered

that the operation
was classified

under need-to-know restrictions.

And that, well, then
that included people

who could have saved lives.

And the fact that 30 terrorists
took hundreds hostage?

The only terrorist

that the Russian
people need to fear...

is their own president.

You have to see this.

Reports just coming in

from the town of Beslan
in North Ossetia.

The Chechen separatists
have entered the school

and taken many hostages.

It's a terrible reminder of
the Dubrovka Theater scene

with hundreds of staff and
people still trapped inside.

Oh, no.

Anna, this is not your war.

Uh, uh, listen, D... Dmitry,
uh, someone needs to negotiate.

I have to try.

Last time I checked,

you were supposed
to be a journalist.

But... but I... I
am and you know that

and why I need to be
there on the ground.

Just be careful.

My contact on the
ground will meet you

and take you to the school.

The government is saying
200 to 400 hostages,

but my contact in Ossetia is
saying it's more like 1100,

700 children.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Be careful!

Welcome aboard.

Thank you.

-Tea or coffee, madam?
-No, thank you.

-Tea or coffee, madam?
-Tea, please.

Your tea ma'am.

Oh, thank you.

Miss?

Miss?

Miss?

Mama.

Mama, you're awake.

Here water, water.

Ilya?

Yeah, she's awake.

Okay.

Okay.

Ilya's on his way.

Okay, I'm gonna go
and get a nurse. Okay?

Wha... what happened?

The hostages?

Mum.

What happened?

The rebels set off a bomb
inside the gymnasium.

That is if you
believe the Kremlin.

There were casualties, mama.

How many?

The number keeps
changing, but...

at the moment they're
saying over 300 dead.

Huh?

Including all the separatists.

Huh?

How many children?

-Mama, you need to rest.
-Vera, how many children?

The majority.

You were right.

You said she would
fight to live.

God is great.

Garry Kasparov was
on TV yesterday.

He called you, "the
conscience of the nation".

Yeah, well, Garry Kasparov
should stick to playing chess.

Good morning.

Have you seen this?

Anna!

I'm no saint.

Far from it.

Ask the mothers of Beslan.

Well, don't tell them.

Mother Russia.

-Far from it.
-Anna!

Anna!

-Anna!
-Thank you.

Anna! Anna! Anna!

Okay, stay back
please. Stay back.

-Anna!
-Anna!

Excuse me, thank you.

-Anna!
-Anna!

Careful, careful.

Anna! Anna! Anna!

You all right?

Yeah.

-Let's go home.
-Okay.

A reporter should
never be the story.

I am not a politician.

I am just another face
in the crowd in Moscow,

St. Petersburg, and Chechnya,

doing my job.

And I do not intend to stop.

-Hi, how are you?
-Good.

What are you doing tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

Planning on coming in to work.

Why?

Well, I was thinking
of taking the day off.

You wanna join me?

Okay.

All right.

Uh, 12:00, the bandstand,
Drewsbury Park.

Right. See you then.

See you there.

Bye.

My feet got fat.

When was the last
time you wore them?

Oh, 30 years ago.

Used to go to Gorky Park
on Saturday afternoons

to dance the cha-cha.

What?

-The cha-cha?
-Yeah, the cha-cha.

I was quite a hoofer.

Ask my wife.

You know, I met
Sasha at a tea dance.

-You're kidding.
-Mm.

And he kept stepping on my feet.

Luckily for him, he
was so good-looking.

-You see, I like this.
-Hmm?

We're hanging out.

We never hang out.

It's always work, work, work.

Voulez-vous danser?

All the other papers
have a travel writer.

How come we don't?

Because we can't afford one.

Not according to our accountant.

According to him, we've
had our best quarter ever,

thanks to you.

Mm.

So, do you know anyone
who can write a bit

and doesn't mind
sleeping in strange beds?

What's wrong, Dima?

Do you want me to stop
stepping on people's toes?

They never come for me.

All the years I've
been doing this,

I've had plenty of
threats, but not once.

They just...

killed my reporters, my friends.

Anna, please.

I'm not asking you to stop,

just step out of the firing line

and you keep the column.

You just shift the focus

from murder and corruption
to bed and breakfasts.

I'll think about it.

Right.

Natalya sent it.

It's a video of two men
killing Chechen civilians,

possibly on the order of
Chechen regional leaders

or, or quite possibly
Putin himself.

You'll need to authenticate it.

I don't understand.

Knock yourself out.

But it's your lead.

And you're ready.

Hello?

Egorov.

Oh, h... hi.

I understand you wanna meet.

Y... yes.

But in public. I want
lots of people around.

As you wish.

Tomorrow, 11:00,
the art museum.

Um, o... okay.

I'll... I'll... I'll...
I'll see you then.

Sleep well.

Goodnight.

Sorry, I'm late.

There was a queue.

Black tea, no sugar.

You just wasted a perfectly
good untainted drink.

And you almost wasted a
perfectly good reporter.

Look, I know this may
sound disingenuous,

but I am glad you're alive.

So, that means I
don't have to worry

about you putting
another wet team onto me?

Not my call.

Well, whose call is it?

I can't answer that.

Can't or won't?

The reason I ask is because
I've been reassigned

to the travel desk.

That's why I'm asking you
to speak to someone for me.

I can pass along
the information.

Pass along wh...

Look, I'm middle management.

These decisions they, um...

My mandate is circumscribed.

Ah.

In other words, I'm screwed.

-I don't make the rules.
-No, you just follow them.

So, can I ask you something?

You know,

out of all the paths you
could have chosen in life,

why did you choose this one?

I could ask you
the same question.

Well, I chose the path
that I believe in.

I didn't.

You know all this,
this was a slum,

until Ivan the Great
kicked out the residents

and built a palace.

Not because he was cruel,
but because he had a vision.

He saw a shining city
rising from that hell hole,

and beyond that, a mighty empire

straddling two continents.

And here we are,
500 years later,

a journalist pleading
for a life in a...

in a country run by
a glorified thug,

celebrating the opening
of its first Starbucks.

I don't expect
you to understand.

Do you have children?

Why do you wanna know?

No, I don't have any children.

But you're married?

I'm single.

And in case you're wondering,
both my parents are dead.

What's your point?

So, you have no one?

What you mean, no
one who gives a shit

if I live or die?

I'm...

You what?

Sorry.

I'm on good terms
with the director,

and he's on good
terms with someone

who's in a position to help
you, so I'll make a request.

Thank you.

Goodbye, Anna.

-Find anything?
-Mm.

You?

Oh.

Oh.

Don't yell.

-Vera!
-Yeah?

Oh.

She's having a baby.

Oh.

Sasha, of course, I'd be
happy if it was a boy.

Wouldn't you like
a granddaughter?

Oh, well, girls...

Yeah, well, they're sweeter,
especially when they're younger.

I'll bet.

I know I was.

You still are.

-God, we're old.
-Yeah.

We're gonna be grandparents.

I know.

We should talk about it.

-I mean...
-Okay.

Like, get it right.
You know what I mean?

Right. Oh.

You want me to get
me off the phone?

I got a lot of shopping,
Sasha, that's why.

You mean fur coats?

No.

Well, Ilya's coming
for dinner this evening

-with his new girlfriend.
-No.

-I know.
-Oh God.

-Are you cooking up a feast?
-Yeah, Vera's coming, too.

Great.

Why don't you come?

-What time?
-8:00.

-All right, great.
-Yeah.

-Yeah, I'd love it.
-Okay.

I'll bring some wine, yeah?

-Yeah. Well...
-Okay, love.

Okay. I'll see you
then. Bye, bye.

Bye.

Oh.

Let go.

-Let go.
-No!

Is journalism worth the
loss of life every time?

Is the price of truth
how much a society cares?

No.

There is nothing of value
apart from the truth.

♪ I'm on a roll ♪

♪ I'm on a roll this time ♪

♪ I feel my luck could change ♪

♪ Pull me out of
the air crash ♪

♪ Pull me out of the lake ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm your super hero ♪

♪ We're standing on the edge ♪

♪ The head of state has
called for me by name ♪

♪ But I don't have
time for him ♪

♪ It's gonna be a glorious day ♪

♪ I feel my luck could change ♪

♪ Pull me out of
the air crash ♪

♪ Pull me out of the lake ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm your super hero ♪

♪ We're standing on the edge ♪