My Undesirable Friends

A powerful portrait of the independent Russian press in an intense cinematic experience.

Russia, 2021: The director has returned to her homeland to follow her friends — all journalists in the independent press. They understand that a full-scale invasion of Ukraine is imminent, and one by one they’re being labeled as “foreign agents.” The designation gives the Russian authorities the power to make arbitrary arrests and throw journalists critical of the regime into prison. Soon, the director’s friends are forced to make the choice between being silenced or going into exile.

For over five hours, the audience gets to feel the journalists’ unrest firsthand. This is a powerful and intimate portrait of the voices standing up against authoritarian power and fighting for freedom of expression. The film keeps the tension high from start to finish, and is truly an extraordinary experience.

There will be a half-hour break during the screening with the opportunity to buy food, snacks and drinks at Vega Snackbar. It will also be possible to enter and exit during the screening.

In cooperation with Oslo Dokumentarkino.