Ukrainian filmmaker Valentyn Vasyanovych was one of the most important voices in Ukrainian cinema before the invasion of 2022, so his newest work is, understandably, more timely than ever. Vasyanovych’s weirdest project yet, To the Victory! might put some viewers off with its use of metafictional elements, but Vasyanovych applies these in a way that lends itself to a compelling and urgent political message.
To the Victory! Review
To the Victory! is set in a post-war future Ukraine where the protagonist, a filmmaker, sets out to make a new film as many of his countrymen — including his family — have refused to return to their country after the war has ended. Although there is a narrative, the story is far less important than what the filmmaker wants to say about it.
Vasyanovych’s film is an exercise in extreme juxtaposition. It’s the mundanity of people watching movies on their couch against the backdrop of one of the most devastating international conflicts we have ever seen; a shot of someone getting blown up by a hidden l andmine followed by a group of people dancing to escape the pain they are suffering. Like many films about the invasion of Ukraine, To the Victory!
Yet, despite the sometimes stark imagery that Vasyanovych presents in To the Victory!, the filmmaker remains staunchly optimistic and patriotic. This is a film about loyalty, but not the type of jingoism that typically would define movies like this. Vasyanovych is not particularly interested in the military aspects of this conflict, but civilians and how they can fight to protect their country and identity, not through warfare but through mere perseverance and a refusal to abandon one’s home and culture.
Although one might wonder if Vasyanovych’s vision of dystopia translates to a world that, in many ways, resembles the dystopias that he created earlier in his career, To the Victory! works because it does not feel overly pessimistic. The world he presents is not a Man in the High Castle-style regime, but a country that has been ravaged by war and is in the process of reconstruction. Unlike many dystopias, this is not a worst-case scenario designed to scaremonger, but a realistic prediction of how things will turn out if we continue down its current path — and what we see is no less depressing.
Throughout the film, Vasyanovych employs metafictional elements, with some moments being staged as part of a film production directed by the protagonist. Other scenes see him struggle with the reality of being a filmmaker in the sociopolitical situation he faces. In this way, Vasyanovych’s latest work is reminiscent of that of Palme d’Or-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi, such as No Bears — an autofictional work starring the director as a filmmaker.
Of course, since many of the actors in the film are playing versions of themselves, the acting in To the Victory! feels incredibly naturalistic. Vasyanovych, in particular, is impressive. He burdens himself with the brunt of the film’s dialogue, some of which is incredibly expositional or even preachy. But despite these qualities, the film never sacrifices its naturalness, always feeling like a work of total authenticity from the distinctive voice of its creator.
Admittedly, compared to Vasyanovych’s past work (Atlantis and Reflection) To the Victory! is a much more stylistically straightforward work. Of course, both of those films were made under very different circumstances. To the Victory! is the first film Vasyanovych has made since the Russian invasion. It’s certainly understandable that this is a little plainer and run-and-gun than what he has made in the past.
Is To the Victory! worth watching?
Indeed, despite its rough-around-the-edges qualities, it’s easy to see the level of ambition and care that Valentyn Vasyanovych put into To the Victory! Although it will not be for everyone, Vasyanovych’s idiosyncratic way of sharing his unique perspective on this conflict makes it an essential addition to the canon of films about the Russia-Ukraine war.
To the Victory! premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs September 4-14.