Venice Film Festival Exclusive: "My Undesirable Friends" Director
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The Exile Diaries: A Cautionary Tale for a Global Press Freedom Crisis
As I watched Julia Loktev’s documentary “My Undesirable Friends: Part 2 — Exile” at the Venice Film Festival, I felt a sense of déjà vu. The story of Russian journalists fleeing their homeland in the face of persecution echoes through time and space, resonating with audiences on both sides of the Atlantic.
The film chronicles press freedom’s demise in Russia, a shocking exposé of Putin’s regime that also serves as a warning bell for democratic nations like the United States. Loktev’s intimate portrayal of journalists forced into exile raises essential questions about our own values and media landscape.
Loktev began filming five years ago when she started documenting independent Russian journalists declared “foreign agents” by the Kremlin. As tanks rolled into Ukraine, their lives were turned upside down. With livelihoods under threat, they scattered across Europe and the US, leaving behind shattered careers and personal demons.
Through Loktev’s lens, we witness these individuals navigating treacherous waters in exile. Armed with an iPhone, she captures moments of raw emotion, vulnerability, and resilience as her subjects adapt to new lives in cities from Istanbul to New York.
The parallels between Russia’s press freedom crisis and the US’s rightward tilt during the Trump presidency are striking. Loktev began filming “deep in the Biden era,” but the echoes of Trump’s attacks on civil liberties are unmistakable. One protagonist shares a message with her younger self: “Stay alarmed, be hysterical if you need to, and know that it’s very easy to lose your country.”
Loktev’s warning is clear: we must remain vigilant against internalizing fear and pressure. We risk becoming complacent in the face of encroaching authoritarianism, sacrificing our values for expediency or convenience.
Social media has amplified the voices of those who would silence journalists but has also empowered citizens to demand accountability from their leaders. Loktev’s film is a testament to the power of journalism as a beacon of hope in times of crisis.
As we watch “My Undesirable Friends,” we’re forced to confront our own complicity in press freedom’s erosion. What does it mean when we prioritize convenience over courage, and when speaking truth to power becomes too costly? Loktev’s film is a clarion call to action: we must recognize the value of a free press and commit to defending it.
The “undesirable friends” of Russia’s independent media may have been forced into exile, but their story serves as a reminder that journalism has no borders. Loktev’s film is not just a eulogy for press freedom in Russia; it’s also a testament to the indomitable spirit of those who continue to fight for truth and accountability.
As we navigate our own media landscape, Loktev’s warning echoes through the ages: “We have to be very aware of the fear where we internalize the pressures. Where you don’t say something you could have said. Where you don’t do something you could have done.” It’s time for us to rise to this challenge and become the mobilizing force Loktev so eloquently advocates.
The fate of our democracy hangs in the balance, and it’s up to us to ensure that the “undesirable friends” of a free press are not silenced.
Reader Views
- TCThe Cart Desk · editorial
The Venice Film Festival's spotlight on press freedom in Russia shines a harsh light on our own democracy's fragility. Julia Loktev's documentary highlights the parallels between Putin's regime and Trump's presidency, but what's missing from this exposé is a nuanced examination of the complicity of Western media in perpetuating these crises. By amplifying the voices of exiled journalists without critiquing their own role in shaping public discourse, we risk obscuring our shared responsibility in enabling authoritarianism.
- SBSam B. · deal hunter
While Julia Loktev's documentary sheds light on Russia's brutal crackdown on press freedom, it's worth noting that similar intimidation tactics are also being employed in countries like Hungary and Turkey under authoritarian regimes with a Western façade. The film raises valid concerns about the dangers of internalizing fear and pressure, but what's just as alarming is how readily democratic nations are complicit in allowing these abuses to happen – often through convenient diplomatic arrangements or misguided business interests.
- PRPat R. · frugal living writer
While Julia Loktev's documentary sheds light on Russia's press freedom crisis, it also glosses over a crucial aspect: the economic burden of exile on these journalists. The cost of living in Western Europe or the US can be staggering for those fleeing persecution, and many struggle to find stable work due to their foreign qualifications. It's a reality that Loktev touches on but doesn't fully explore. As we consider how to support our international media allies, we must also examine the material barriers they face when seeking refuge in democratic countries.