Welcome to Chechnya (HBO)

About Welcome to Chechnya

"Welcome to Chechnya", released in 2020, takes viewers on an intimate and chilling journey into the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals living in the Chechen Republic in Russia, who are relentlessly persecuted and tortured. The documentarian, David France, provides a heart-pounding exploration into an ongoing humanitarian crisis, highlighting the brave few who are risking everything to resist it.

Making / Production

The film is a pioneering work of innovative tech. With the help of industry experts, France used "face double" technology, applying CGI face masks to his subjects to obscure their identities without losing the intimacy and immediacy of their performances - a groundbreaking technique that kept their identities secret, serving the documentary purpose and offering a hard-hitting portrayal of their crisis.

Actors

• Anya T. - Anya is a lesbian from Chechnya who must flee for her life after her brother discovers her orientation. She portrays the helpless yet brave person whose life has taken a drastic turn.
• David Isteev - David is a Crisis Response Coordinator who risks his life to save others. His portrayal of a selfless humanitarian working in secret is powerful and deeply moving.
• Grisha - A survivor bravely sharing his story to help expose the horrors occurring in Chechnya. Grisha's courage is poignantly portrayed, amplifying the urgent need for international attention and action.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The documentary uses groundbreaking "face double" technology to protect the identities of the participants.
• Director David France spent 20 months with his subjects, often in safe houses, and used secret cameras to document their journeys.
• The film was shot under great risk, with the crew being closely monitored and tailed on numerous occasions.

Awards

"Welcome to Chechnya" has garnered significant acclaim, including winning the "U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Editing" at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Later that year, it was awarded the "Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking".

Quotes

• “Right now, there is a genocide of homosexual people in Chechnya." - David Isteev
• "We were proud of our country, but this country decided we were enemies." - Grisha

Music, Soundtrack

• The film does not feature a traditional soundtrack, but its sound design, including terrifying phone calls and voices, is profoundly effective in conveying the atmosphere of terror and tension.