In the Rearview (Polish: Skąd dokąd, Ukrainian: Звідки куди / Zvidky kudy) is a 2023 documentary feature film directed by Maciek Hamela. It is about a van, that traverses the roads of Ukraine with the driver-director and evacuated people, following the Russian invasion. The vehicle becomes a fragile and temporary refuge of exiles whose only objective is to escape the war. It is a co-production between Poland, France and Ukraine.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

In the Rearview
Skąd dokąd
Directed byMaciek Hamela
Written byMaciek Hamela
Produced byMaciek Hamela, Piotr Grawender
CinematographyYura Dunay, Wawrzyniec Skoczylas, Marcin Sierakowski, Piotr Grawender
Edited byPiotr Ogiński
Music byAntoni Komasa Łazarkiewicz
Production
companies
Pemplum (Poland), Affinity Cine (Poland), SaNoSi Productions (France), 435 FILMS (Ukraine)
Distributed byNew Story (France), So FILMS (Poland), Film Movement (US)
Release date
Running time
84 minutes
CountriesPoland, France, Ukraine
LanguagesUkrainian, Russian, Polish, French, English

In the Rearview has made it to the shortlist of 15 films for the 96th Academy Awards® in the Best Documentary Feature Film category[8][9] and is nominated for the 26th Polish Film Academy Awards in the Best Documentary Film category.[10][11]

In the Rearview debuted at 2023's Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival, where it won the main prize in the Polish Competition and the Arthouse Cinema Association award,[12] and then had its world premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.[13] Since then, it has been presented at over 50 festivals in Poland and abroad, receiving the Grand Jury Prize in the International Competition at Sheffield DocFest,[14] which made it eligible to apply to the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,[15] or main awards in Odesa,[16] Zurich,[17] Hamburg,[18] and Chicago.[19] It was also presented at Toronto Film Festival[20] where it had its North American premiere and at DMZ International Documentary Film Festival[21] in South Korea where it had its Asian premiere.[21]

Production

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Skąd dokąd and Zvidky kudy are the Polish and Ukrainian versions of the film's title, respectively. These phrases can be translated to mean "where from" (skąd / звідки / zvidky) and "where to" (dokąd / куди / kudy). They are routine questions asked when trying to pass through the numerous checkpoints located throughout the country that Hamela passed during his trips to and from Ukraine.[22]

The film's score was composed by Antoni Komasa-Łazarkiewicz. In addition to the original score, Komasa-Łazarkiewicz composed the film's theme, a classical piece called "The Wings" performed by the Ukrainian Choir.[23] The theme is based on a poem of the same title by Lina Kostenko, one of Ukraine's most prominent contemporary poets.[24]

Release

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In the Rearview had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, in the ACID (Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema) section.[25] It had its international premiere in the International Competition of Sheffield DocFest, where it won the Grand Jury Prize,[26] and North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in the TIFF Docs section.[27]

The film was sold to multiple territories, including US, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Hong Kong, Poland and France.[28]

Critical reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, In the Rearview holds an approval rating of 100% based on 10 reviews.[29]

Accolades

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In the Rearview was nominated for the International Documentary Association (IDA) awards, in the Best Documentary Film category and received the Pare Lorentz Award,[30] awarded to films that reflect the spirit and tradition of the work of Pare Lorentz.

In the Rearview was among the 14 titles on the shortlist of the Best European Documentary films,[31] published by the European Film Academy in 2023.

Film festivals and accolades

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Chosen film festivals, awards and nominations for In the Rearview
Festival Date Section Result Award Recipient(s) Ref.
Millennium Docs Against Gravity May 2023 Polish Competition Won The Best Polish Award Maciek Hamela [32]
Won The Arthouse Cinema Association Award
Cannes Film Festival May 2023 ACID Programed [33]
Sheffield DocFest June 2023 International Competition Won The Grand Jury Prize Maciek Hamela [34]
Iceland Documentary Film Festival – IceDocs July 2023 Main Competition Won Special Mention Maciek Hamela [35]
Dokufest August 2023 International Feature Dox Competition Nominated [36]
Odesa International Film Festival August 2023 National Competition Won The Best Ukrainian Documentary Feature Film Award Maciek Hamela [16]
Toronto International Film Festival September 2023 TIFF Docs Nominated [20]
DMZ International Documentary Film Festival September 2023 Unable to Settle or Leave Programed [37]
Festival 2 Cinéma de Valenciennes September 2023 Documentary Competition Won Grand Prix Maciek Hamela [38][39]
Won Critics' Award
Won Students' Awards
Filmfest Hamburg October 2023 VETO! Competition Won Political Film Award for the best directorial work Maciek Hamela [18]
Zurich Film Festival October 2023 Documentary Competition Won The Best Documentary Maciek Hamela [17]
CinEast – the Central and Eastern European Film Festival October 2023 Focus on Ukraine Programed [40]
Festival International de cinéma War on Screen October 2023 Feature Film Competition Won International Jury Grand Prize Maciek Hamela [41]
Opolskie Lamy Film Festival October 2023 Feature Film Competition Won Grand Prix for the Best Documentary Maciek Hamela [42]
Corsica.doc – International Documentary Festival October 2023 New Talents Competition Won Main Award Corsica.doc/Via Stella for the Best Feature Film Maciek Hamela [43]
Won Youth Jury Award for the Best Feature Film
Chicago International Film Festival October 2023 Documentary Competition Won Silver Hugo Award Maciek Hamela [19]
Man in Danger Media Festival October 2023 Documentary Competition Won A Kazimierz Karabasz "Patient Eye" Award Maciek Hamela [44]
Won Audience Award
Ukraina! Film Festival October 2023 Documentary Competition Won Best Documentary Competition Award Maciek Hamela [45]
Won Audience Award
Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival October 2023 Constellations Programed [46]
Doc NYC November 2023 Winner's Circle Nominated [47]
IDFA - The International Documentary Film Festival November 2023 Best of Fests Nominated [48]
Zinebi – International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao November 2023 ZIFF – Zinebi First Film International Competition Won ZIFF Grand Award Maciek Hamela [49]
Bastau International Film Festival December 2023 Bastau Docs Won Main Prize named after Oraz Abishev Maciek Hamela [50]
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 2024 True Stories Nominated [51]
Budapest International Documentary Festival BIDF February 2024 International Competition Nominated [52]

References

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  1. ^ Brooks, Xan (2023-05-26). "'They wanted their accounts to be heard': the film-maker who drove 400 Ukrainians to safety". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  2. ^ "Review: In the Rearview". Cineuropa. 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  3. ^ Handler, Bilge Ebiri, Rachel (2023-05-16). "What's at Cannes? Scorsese, a Gay Western, and Cate Blanchett As a Renegade Nun". Vulture. Retrieved 2023-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Pond, Steve (2023-09-15). "'In the Rearview' Review: Road Trip Doc Puts a Human Face on War in Ukraine". TheWrap. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  5. ^ Vlessing, Etan (2023-09-11). "'In the Rearview' Director Maciek Hamela Brings Human Face to Brutal Ukraine War". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  6. ^ Baughan2023-06-14T07:00:00+01:00, Nikki. "'In The Rearview': Sheffield Review". Screen. Retrieved 2023-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Tallerico, Brian. "TIFF 2023: In the Rearview, Flipside, Copa 71 | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert". rogerebert.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  8. ^ "96TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 10 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED". press.oscars.org. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  9. ^ Davis, Clayton (2023-12-21). "Oscar Shortlists Announced for 10 Categories: 'Barbie' Leads the Way". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  10. ^ "Orły | Znamy Nominowanych do 26. Orłów, Polskich Nagród Filmowych". pnf.pl. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  11. ^ WKZ (2024-02-08). "Orły 2024. Znamy nominowanych do Polskich Nagród Filmowych". film.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  12. ^ "2023 Winners". MDAG communication (Copy). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  13. ^ "L'ACID - PIERRE FEUILLE PISTOLET". Le site de l'ACID - Association du Cinéma Indépendant pour sa Diffusion. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  14. ^ Carey, Matthew (2023-06-18). "Ukraine-Themed Documentary 'In The Rearview' Earns Top Prize At 30th Sheffield DocFest – Full Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  15. ^ Davis, Clayton (2023-12-07). "Academy Announces 288 Eligible Titles for Animated, Documentary and International Feature Oscar Races". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  16. ^ a b "The winners of the Odesa Film Festival were announced in Chernivtsi". odessa-journal.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  17. ^ a b Bałaga, Marta (2023-10-07). "'Hesitation Wound,' 'Hollywoodgate' and 'In the Rearview' Win at Zurich Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  18. ^ a b "Maciek Hamela's In the Rearview wins the Political Film Award at Filmfest Hamburg". Cineuropa. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  19. ^ a b Azad, Navid Nikkhah (2023-12-14). "Winners of Chicago Film Festival 2023 - ZIZ.NEWS". www.ziz.news. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  20. ^ a b Morfoot, Addie (2023-07-26). "Docs About Louis C.K., Paul Simon and a Whole Foods Dishwasher Who Moonlights as a Mountain Climber Are Among Those Going to Toronto This Year". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  21. ^ a b Rosser2023-08-24T12:33:00+01:00, Michael. "Korea's DMZ Docs unveils revamped structure, opening with 'The Eternal Memory'". Screen. Retrieved 2023-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ "Film Movement". www.filmmovement.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  23. ^ "SKĄD DOKĄD - dokument o Ukrainiei muzyka Antoniego Komasy-Łazarkiewicza". www.rmfclassic.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  24. ^ Gracewood, Gemma (2023-11-12). "Man With a Van: In the Rearview documentarian Maciek Hamela on capturing the urgent intimacy of Ukrainian evacuations • Journal • A Letterboxd Magazine". letterboxd.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  25. ^ Parfitt2023-04-18T09:55:00+01:00, Orlando. "Cannes parallel section ACID unveils 2023 selection". Screen. Retrieved 2023-12-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ "International Competition Winner: In the Rearview | Sheffield DocFest". sheffdocfest.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  27. ^ Carey, Matthew (2023-07-26). "TIFF Announces Documentary Lineup, With Film On Louis C.K. Scandal, Plus Latest From Raoul Peck, Errol Morris, Lucy Walker, Roger Ross Williams". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  28. ^ Brew, Caroline (2023-11-13). "Film Movement Acquires U.S. Rights to Russia-Ukraine War Documentary 'In the Rearview' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  29. ^ "In the Rearview - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  30. ^ Morfoot, Addie (2023-12-13). "'Bobi Wine: The People's President' Wins Best Feature at IDA Documentary Awards – Full Winners List". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  31. ^ "Documentary Film Selection 2023". European Film Academy. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  32. ^ "The Winners of the 20th Millennium Docs Against Gravity announced!". Festiwal Filmowy Millennium Docs Against Gravity. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  33. ^ Parfitt, Orlando. "Cannes parallel section ACID unveils 2023 selection". Screen. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  34. ^ "Announcing 2023 Sheffield DocFest Award Winners and an Increase On Delegate Attendance Figures | Sheffield DocFest". sheffdocfest.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  35. ^ "Sarvnik Kaur's Against the Tide is crowned Best Feature at IceDocs". Cineuropa. 2023-07-24. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  36. ^ Cunningham, Nick (2023-07-11). "DokuFest (Kosovo) unveils Competition programme". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  37. ^ Rosser, Michael. "Korea's DMZ Docs unveils revamped structure, opening with 'The Eternal Memory'". Screen. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  38. ^ Waroux, Nathalie (2023-10-03). ""La salle des profs", grand prix du Festival 2 cinéma de Valenciennes". La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  39. ^ "Le Palmarès de la 13e édition - Festival 2 Valenciennes". festival2valenciennes.fr (in French). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  40. ^ "CinEast 2023 - Festival du Film d'Europe Centrale et Orientale - Luxembourg". www.cineast.lu (in Czech). 2022-09-22. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  41. ^ "2023 Awards | War on Screen". War on Screen. 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  42. ^ Dragon, Mirosław (2023-10-14). "Festiwal Filmowy Opolskie Lamy. Zobaczcie, kto został laureatem festiwalu w Opolu". Nowa Trybuna Opolska. p. 1.
  43. ^ "Edition 2023 du 10 au15 octobre à Ajaccio". Site de Corsica.Doc (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  44. ^ "FilmPolski.pl". FilmPolski (in Polish). Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  45. ^ "TVP Kultura - Telewizja Polska S.A." tvpkultura.tvp.pl. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  46. ^ "Ji.hlava IDFF | Constellations". www.ji-hlava.com. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  47. ^ Davis, Clayton (2023-10-17). "DOC NYC, Key Indicator for Oscars' Documentary Feature Category, Announces Shortlist Including 'American Symphony' and 'Every Body'". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  48. ^ "In the Rearview (2023) | IDFA Festival". IDFA. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  49. ^ "In the Rearview and Beyond the Other Shore come out on top at Zinebi". Cineuropa. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2023-12-16.
  50. ^ "Bastau International Student and Debut Film Festival (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  51. ^ Wu, Valerie (2023-12-05). "Palm Springs International Film Festival to Open With 'Wicked Little Letters,' Full Lineup Announced". Variety. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  52. ^ "BIDF 2024 – A Celebration of International Documentaries in Hungary | Budapest Reporter". 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
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