In light of the current political climate I am in awe. Ukrainian citizens are on another level, their resilience and complete dedication to freedom and democracy is inspiring.

The Maidan(square) in Kyiv, Ukraine. Year 2014. The 4th president of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych promised Ukrainians that Ukraine would join EU. But his meeting with Putin was a game changer. That would sabotage Ukrainians dream of being part of Europe. The country got its independence from Russia in 90s and already had seen The Orange Revolution since the turn of this century triggered by a rigged election that was marred by a presidential candidate Yanukovych. The 2014 revolution rightly known as The Revolution of Dignity started with few hundreds gathered at the Maidan as a response to a FB call put out by the journalist Mustufa Nayyem and in the days to come, the Maidan would be filled with hundreds of thousands of protesters. It ended after 93 days that left 125 people killed. 65 missing and some 1900 injured! It resulted into Berkut (special police forces) being disbanded, Yanukovych fleeing to Russia and was given asylum by Putin and Ukrainians triumphing as it signed for EU.

This documentary is a horrendous veracious account of the events that took place during those 93 days. A direct diatribe against Russians ongoing meddling into country's politics. It will hit your bloodstream and nervous system. It may seem single dimensional but this is a revolution against a leader who was merely a Russian puppet. How Bertuts rifles got loaded with live ammo instead of the standard rubber bullets against the peaceful protesters. The triumph however, was short-lived as soon Russia sent military forces to assist pro- Russiann separatists and annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine and also, the ongoing pro-Russian protests in other parts of the country that has been escalated into violent wars... crisp editing, superb footage.. Despite of missing a comprehensive history aspect, it does not fail to achieve visceral impact. A MUST see.

Not really, but it still is quite the ordeal and quite the ... well almost crazy thing to be watching this right now. While there is a war going on in Ukraine - a war that is unnecessary. Not that any war is actually and really necessary. But this one is especially hard to stomach.

Bill Maher made a joke about one of Russias reasons to invade Ukraine (2022 that is): they claim that they are afraid Ukraine might get WMDs ... anyone who has a little knowledge of history knows the Americans did something similar some time ago ... that aside when I heard about the invasion I felt sick to my stomache. There is no reasoning and no valid reason for this to happen - no even if Ukraine or their politics "provoked" (mocked?) Vladimir Putin ... this is not even close to a valid argument for war. Don't even go down that road.

So what to do, than to watch this documentary? Yes a glutton to punishment - no pun intended. I can watch this documentary from the safety of my couch or wherever I sit and watch, but the people here where fighting for their lives. And the camera does not shy away - we see the consequences of violence, we see the results of people being beaten or shot at. And it does not look pretty ... and yet the people of Ukraine will not give up .. they will not surrender, they will not give in.

Harrowing and really grim, this may be a history lesson but one that I would imagine not many want to watch. Sean Penn apparently is in Ukraine right now - and he is allegedly doing another documentary about what is happening right now ... as if the pandemic was not enough madness this had to happen ...