The 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov," in collaboration with the Ukrainian brand Riot Division, created the short film Polemos. It is an artistic reflection on the experience of war, with the central theme being the constant presence of death in a soldier’s life. The plot revolves around a chess game between warriors and one and the same opponent — their own death.
The film is an homage (a work inspired by) Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal. The title Polemos represents struggle, confrontation, and war in ancient Greek mythology, which, according to Heraclitus, “makes some slaves, and others free.” The idea and screenplay were written by Yulia Khoros and Valentyn Dzyubenko from Azov. The cast includes soldiers Dmytro “Zhah” Kirov, Illia “Crowley” Kolesnikov, Valeriy “Shaman” Semenyuk, Serhiy “Geymer” Oliynyk, Ruslan “Shtorm” Yeremeyev, as well as actor Slava Nikonorov.
The director is Yevheniy Bruks, and the cinematographer is Azov serviceman Ruslan Bohdan. Production was handled by Neutrino studio. The film was produced by Riot Division and its leaders.
The music was composed by folk singer Maria Kvitka, electronic musician Nastya Vogan, and cellist Artem Zamkov. Sound design was by Andriy Nidzelsky.
Polemos has already been selected for programs at 18 international festivals, including in Ukraine, Sweden, the USA, France, Brazil, India, and South Africa, earning multiple awards.
The film is dedicated to the fallen Azov fighters and all soldiers who gave their lives fighting for Ukraine’s independence.
