Welcome to Chechnya

Name: Welcome to Chechnya
Genre: Documentary
Released: June 30, 2020
Duration: 107 min
Rating: 86

2020

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 17 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 37 Ratings

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Welcome To Chechnya

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Movie Details & Credits

HBO | Release Date (Streaming): June 30, 2020 | Not Rated

Summary: Searing urgency is a guiding force as Welcome to Chechnya shadows a group of activists who risk unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ pogrom raging in the repressive and closed Russian republic. Since 2016, Chechnya’s tyrannical leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has waged a depraved operation to “cleanse the blood” of LGBTQ+Searing urgency is a guiding force as Welcome to Chechnya shadows a group of activists who risk unimaginable peril to confront the ongoing anti-LGBTQ+ pogrom raging in the repressive and closed Russian republic. Since 2016, Chechnya’s tyrannical leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has waged a depraved operation to “cleanse the blood” of LGBTQ+ Chechens, overseeing a government-directed campaign to detain, torture, and execute them. With no help from the Kremlin and only faint global condemnation of the violence, a vast and secretive network of activists takes matters into its own hands.… Expand

Director: David France

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 107 min

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Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Alonso Duralde

Feb 2, 2020

Advocacy meets suspense in Welcome to Chechnya, a chilling examination of both the brutality that the Chechen LGBT community is forced to face on a daily basis and the difficulty of leaving the country for peace and safety. Read full review

Noel Murray

Jul 1, 2020

What’s perhaps most remarkable about Welcome To Chechnya is the level-headed perspective many of these subjects have about what’s happening to them. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Jul 2, 2020

Welcome to Chechnya is a moving and vital indictment of mass persecution. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Monica Castillo

Jun 30, 2020

Welcome to Chechnya is both astonishingly groundbreaking in its use of technology, and difficult to watch. Read full review

IndieWire Jude Dry

Feb 2, 2020

Welcome to Chechnya is a vital and urgent portrait of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and the world needs to hear about it. Read full review

Abby Olcese

Mar 26, 2020

With comprehensive access and a vital narrative, Welcome to Chechnya is an important work of journalism. Read full review

David Fear

Jun 30, 2020

Welcome to Chechnya is a horror movie, but it’s also a collective profile in courage. You can’t say that “such people” are not here. They are, and they’re not just heroes, the movie suggests. They’re the last thing standing between survival and a purge. Read full review

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User Reviews

JPK

Jul 27, 2020

Very Heart Wreching
This documentary masterfully looks at the struggles of human rights activists fighting for equality and basic human rights.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

4125MakeItSo

Jul 10, 2020

This is disgusting, what such things can be happened in modern world. It looks more like middle age, but not 2017. This is very important social problem. I am not LGBT, but this more about humans life and basic rights, than sexual orientation.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Mikhael2939

Jul 3, 2020

Heartbreaking movie !

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

Dan_B

Mar 16, 2021

(español / English)

Despotismo homofóbico en Chechenia. Extracto: Tremendo documental de David France que nos muestra el arresgado accionar de la ONG Russian LGTB Network. Una fuerte denuncia sobre la criminal política discriminatoria y represiva del gobierno checheno contra su población(español / English)

Despotismo homofóbico en Chechenia.

Extracto:

Tremendo documental de David France que nos muestra el arresgado accionar de la ONG Russian LGTB Network. Una fuerte denuncia sobre la criminal política discriminatoria y represiva del gobierno checheno contra su población LGBTQ, en la que involucra a sus familias como agentes represivos, en un país cuyo presidente, el homófobo confeso Kadýrov, cuenta con el apoyo explícito de Putin.
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Reseña:

Chechenia es una pequeña república de mayoría musulmana ubicada en el norte del Cáucaso que forma parte de la Federación Rusa. Su presidente, Ramzan Kadýrov, un millonario que la gobierna en forma autocrática con el franco apoyo de Putin, lleva adelante una violenta política homo y trans fóbica, apresando y torturando homosexuales varones y mujeres para que “delaten” a otros. Algunos, fueron asesinados por el gobierno -ya que no sobrevivieron a las torturas- y la mayoría son devueltos a sus familias para que “se encarguen de ellos”, es decir para que ellas mismas los asesinen. Por otro lado, son varios los denunciados por sus propias familias.

Este documental tremendo sigue la arriesgada tarea de algunos miembros de la Russian LGTB Network, una ONG (vinculada a otras del exterior) dedicada a rescatar a los homosexuales chechenos sacándolos de ese país, alojarlos en distintos refugios secretos (uno de ellos en Moscú) y gestionar su emigración a países que los acojan en calidad de refugiados. Los casos abordados son principalmente dos: uno de un ruso que hizo una visita ocasional a Grozni, la capital chechena y fue apresado y torturado y otro de una chica chechena lesbiana extorsionada por su tío.

Aclaremos que la misma Rusia no constituye tampoco un refugio seguro para los homosexuales rescatados.

Para preservar la identidad de los refugiados, sus familias y parejas, el documental recurre a la técnica de deepfake, donde la cara y la voz de algunos de ellos son reemplazadas digitalmente por caras y voces de actores. Observamos como es la vida cotidiana en los refugios, conmovedoras escenas familiares y, en muchos momentos, el relato se tensa con escenas dignas de una película de espionaje. Se insertan además durísimos videos de apresamientos y abusos de las fuerzas policiales chechenas interceptados por la ONG.

Homophobic despotism in Chechnya.

Abstract:

Tremendous documentary by David France that shows us the actions of the NGO Russian LGTB Network.

A strong complaint about the discriminatory, repressive and criminal policy of the Chechen government against its LGBTQ population, involving their families as repressive agents, in a country whose president, the confessed homophobe Kadyrov, has the explicit support of Putin.
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Review:

Chechnya is a small, Muslim-majority republic located in the North Caucasus that is part of the Russian Federation. Its president, Ramzan Kadyrov, a millionaire who governs it in an autocratic way with the frank support of Putin, carries out a violent homo and transphobic policy, imprisoning and torturing homosexual men and women so that they “expose” others. Some were assassinated by the government - since they did not survive the torture - and most are returned to their families so that they "take care of them", that is, for them to kill them themselves. On the other hand, there are several denounced by their own families.

This tremendous documentary follows the risky task of some members of the Russian LGTB Network, an NGO (linked to others from abroad) dedicated to rescuing Chechen homosexuals by surreptitiously removing them from that country, housing them in different secret shelters (one of them in Moscow) and manage their emigration to countries that host them as refugees. The cases dealt with are mainly two: one of a Russian who made an occasional visit to Grozny, the Chechen capital and was arrested and tortured, and another of a lesbian Chechen girl extorted by her uncle.

Let us clarify that Russia itself is not a safe haven for rescued homosexuals either.

To preserve the identity of the refugees, their families and partners, the documentary uses the deepfake technique, where the face and voice of some of them are digitally replaced by the faces and voices of actors.

We observe what daily life is like in the shelters, moving family scenes and, in many moments, the story is tense with scenes worthy of a spy movie. In addition, very harsh videos of arrests and abuses by the Chechen police forces intercepted by the NGO are inserted.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TheRaggedFlygon

Jul 2, 2020

Welcome to Chechnya is a harrowing documentary concerning a network of LGBTQ+ activists who make it their mission to help queer refugees from the Russian republic of Chechnya escape the grasps of a regime hell bent on cleansing individuals who do not identify as heterosexual from the ChechenWelcome to Chechnya is a harrowing documentary concerning a network of LGBTQ+ activists who make it their mission to help queer refugees from the Russian republic of Chechnya escape the grasps of a regime hell bent on cleansing individuals who do not identify as heterosexual from the Chechen population. The film utilizes CGI distortion to alter the appearance of many of the refugees out of the interest for their safety as many of them continue to be hunted by authorities. As one may expect the messages of this film are extremely inspiring and brave, but at the same time, the content of the film is equally gruesome and terrifying. Rather than focus on the actions taken by the Chechen government, as well as the Russian Federal Government under Vladimir Putin, the film instead focuses on the individual stories of refugees and those who aid them throughout their journey, resulting in a much more personal feel. Rather than feeling like an elongated news story, Welcome to Chechnya instead feels like a series of personal narratives. This complements the gruesome nature of the content of this documentary as you see the victims tell their stories with them facing the camera rather than a filmmaker simply commentating over news footage.

All in all, Welcome to Chechnya is an extremely powerful film that serves as a stern reminder how far some regions of the world still have to come with regards to LGBTQ+ rights and in addition how the world as a whole needs to be more supportive of the assistance of these refugees who are running for their lives.… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

drderu

Aug 3, 2020

I was left in limbo watching this documentary. The reward of even a tiny glimpse of hope is always rooted from someone’s tragic way of life. One couldn’t believe the inhumane ways of how we treat other human being that it has gone beyond the politics, the stigma in our social system,I was left in limbo watching this documentary. The reward of even a tiny glimpse of hope is always rooted from someone’s tragic way of life. One couldn’t believe the inhumane ways of how we treat other human being that it has gone beyond the politics, the stigma in our social system, religion and belief. Welcome to Chechnya is a reflection of the gross, horrific and sad reality of how oppressed the LGBTQ community is in parts of the world, where despite the forward leaning and progression to fight for LGBTQ equality and rights, oppression and discrimination are still exercised.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ShefardAlex

Jul 2, 2020

The film is ambiguous, at least for the fact that Russia is ultimately shown guilty, although what does Russia have to do with it, when Kadyrov personally chooses the rules and so on. Let’s explain to those who don’t understand again, in areas such as Chechnya, very little depends on theThe film is ambiguous, at least for the fact that Russia is ultimately shown guilty, although what does Russia have to do with it, when Kadyrov personally chooses the rules and so on. Let’s explain to those who don’t understand again, in areas such as Chechnya, very little depends on the pride, in the form of Russian Putin, it looks like Hong Kong. They have their own laws, they also hate Russians in Chechnya, they drove a lot of people from their territory, where they originally lived with very large generations like mestizos. Many Hrestians, atheists, and other people, especially people living in cities such as Sochi, etc., that is, being the peoples of the aremenia, do not agree with them. But unfortunately, nothing can be done about it, the war with Chechnya has already ended with many deaths, so many relatives of my mother and her friends, cruelty has developed there, but this is not the only place in the world with such cruelty (and this could be clarified in the film )
Well, it looks amusing that HBO does not make films about the genocide of the same Armenians, the murder of gays in Arab countries. but at the same time everyone is stamping films about hatred and bad Russians.
As raising a topic this is good, but as a duplicity of hbo this is a typical example.
Where, by the way, is there a film about the genocide of Russians who originally lived on the territory of Chechnya or films about the poor soldiers who were tortured there? All is well, but in moderation. Also, a very big topic has not been revealed that many politically unnecessary people were tortured under these persecutions. I’ll show the film again not bad, but everyone who watches it should not forget that not only orientation affects Chechens. Even far from Chechnya, many of them impose their hatred culture in Russian cities… Expand

1 of 11 users found this helpful110

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