On 13 May, the Festival de Cannes will host a day dedicated to Ukraine, an initiative to which you have been actively involved together with the Festival's management and the Embassy of Ukraine in France. What does Ukraine mean to you personally? Why do you make films here, risking your life?
Ukraine has become an integral part of my life. I am not Ukrainian and I have never claimed to speak for Ukrainians. But their cause has become mine. Over the past three years, I have spent most of my time in Ukraine. And yes, I have taken risks. It's a connection of body and soul. It's total commitment. It seems that saving the Ukrainians is also about saving France, Europe and my own.
Your new film is called Our War. Does this include "our" France? And more broadly, how is this war perceived today by Western elites and Western society in general, if I may make such a generalisation?
Of course, "ours" includes France. It also includes the whole of Europe, America, and even more so, the entire free world, which believes that Russian imperialism and barbarism are horrific. The war can only be understood in one way - as it is, as a war of aggression against a free and open society that wants only peace. This is an existential war. For the future of Ukraine, but really for all of us. Do all "Western elites" think so? Unfortunately, not always. Support for Ukraine is strong. But we have a pro-Russian party that is also very strong. A party without a name. Without a clear identity. An unofficial party that crosses existing parties and ranges from the far right to the far left. But still a party. And a strong one.
President Zelenskyy appears in almost all of your films about Ukraine. How do you manage to get such privileged access to him? And have you seen any changes in his character or leadership style over the past three years?
This is probably the result of experience and trust gained on the ground, alongside Ukraine's brave defenders. I have supported Ukraine's freedom since the Maydan and the Revolution of Dignity. Their courage is admirable and inspires true camaraderie with the women and men of Ukraine. My respect and admiration for your President is obvious. I have observed that he embodies the spirit of the Churchill of today and is probably the most popular world leader. His courage and wisdom are second to none. I know that.
As for Zelenskyy's evolution, I may surprise you. But I am not sure that he has changed much. The evolution, or rather the revolution, took place on 24 February. And it happened instantly, like a kind of metamorphosis. On that day, a new Zelenskyy was born, fully armed and not in need of "evolution". He was simply heroic. He was true to History with a capital H. And he remained so.
Artists are often described as those who intuitively feel the spirit of an era. What did you feel among Ukrainians during the recent filming – fatigue, hope, determination? And do you personally consider yourself an optimist?
As for me, from the first day I felt that Ukraine should win this war and that we should not hesitate in our support. I have not changed. I feel the same way. And what I have seen in Pokrovsk, Sumy and other places on the front line has only strengthened my conviction that if you lose, the consequences will be catastrophic not only for Ukraine but for the whole world. And for this reason, Ukraine must win. And from what I see on the battlefield, Ukraine can win.
As for the Ukrainians. I often read in the West that they are tired, demoralised and so on. To be honest, that's not what my co-director Marc Roussel and I saw in the film. Their morale is unshakable. And their confidence in the rightness of their cause is also unshakable.
One thing I've also noticed is that there are recurring characters in these four films who keep coming back. These are my fellow adventurers, like Serhiy Osypenko, Bohdan Hervyazyuk and others, some of whom are members of the territorial defence of Ukraine. But also General Syrskyy or the heroic Taira – I can't name them all. Just look at their faces. The war and its suffering have not aged them. They made them even taller and, so to speak, rejuvenated them. This is my answer to your question.