"De Pue's Mariinka strikes a rare balance between artfulness and urgency, capturing the lives of orphaned children affected by the Russo-Ukrainian war."
"Filming for over a decade, De Pue follows brothers turned enemies and a young paramedic, creating a lyrical narration that reflects the tragedy of war."
"Armed with a 16mm camera, De Pue sacrifices mobility for a more exalted visual register, lending dignity to the protagonists and the imagery of Donbas."
"The warmth of celluloid provides a visceral force to the images, contrasting with the rough digital aesthetics typical of contemporary war documentaries."
CPH:DOX's 2025 edition opened with Facing War, a documentary on the Russo-Ukrainian war during Jens Stoltenberg's NATO tenure. Critics noted its cautious political presentation, yet its premiere coincided with significant political events. The festival continues its tradition of Ukraine-focused films with Pieter-Jan De Pue's Mariinka, which balances artistic ambition and urgency. De Pue's work captures the lives of orphaned children affected by war, using 16mm film to create a poetic portrayal of Donbas, contrasting with the typical digital imagery of contemporary war documentaries.
Read at Filmmaker Magazine
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