The Second Chechen War (1999-2009) was a grim time in Russia. National propaganda was everywhere, but there was little international coverage during the war. The devastation wrought on Chechnya was widely unknown. Then came Anna Politkovskaya. 

Words of War is a biopic following Anna Politkovskaya (played by I Swear‘s Maxine Peake) and her role in the war as a journalist and human rights activist— and mainly as an incredibly brave woman who stood up against her intimidating, powerful, grossly authoritarian country. 

The film starts in media res amid some tense action, which forces the audience to wonder who Politkovskaya is and how she got there. Peake is outstanding. However, the colour-grading is glib but fits the topic quite well.

The set design, particularly in the domestic scenes and the recreations of Chechnya from the era, is spectacular. Living rooms and kitchens look lived in, not sterile. The Chechnya-based locations truly seem war-torn with piles of rubble littering the ground amid dilapidated buildings. Special effects are real, and explosive–figuratively, and quite literally–while the costumes add an authentic Eastern European flavour.

What’s less amazing is the cinematography. James Strong (Broadchurch) is mainly a television director and it shows through shaky shots and awkward angles. Luckily, as Words of War moves along, it becomes more confident visually with some aerial shots that are especially beautiful.

Meanwhile, the cast’s stark British accents are overwhelmingly distracting, especially since they are playing Russian figures. For viewers unaware of the context, the accents are definitely confusing. Worse, the British humour and manner of speech make the film feel separate from the very real people and true story. It’s clearly a British production for a British audience.

There are also inaccuracies around aspects of Anna’s life and work. The familial relationships, for one, have some creative liberties, with the family issuing a statement against the film.  They claim that they did not give the studio permission to use their names and adamantly deny any involvement with the script they received during production. The depiction of Anna’s ex-husband (played by Jason Isaacs, The White Lotus) also doesn’t give him enough credit as a highly successful TV journalist.

Still, it’s by no means a bad movie. Even with these alleged liberties, it’s compelling as a drama.

There’s some biopic cheesiness, but there are also moments both emotional and heartfelt . The general story is very gripping and the build-up is worth it, as the plot gets more and more intense, and the shocks keep on coming. At some point, one begins to feel the intense paranoia that Anna does, simply waiting for when she will have to face the powers that be rather than if.

Words of War doesn’t just show Anna as some saintly hero, either, as most biopics tend to do with their subject. The film subtly hints at the fact that sometimes activism isn’t always helpful in the moment. There’s a particular scene that shows this beautifully: Anna stays in a lavish hotel. She puts on a fancy dress, ready to address the UN. In the same moments, one of her Chechen informants lies beaten in a dark and grey prison cell.

Anna was critical to exposing the Second Chechen War to the wider world. At the same time, that reporting hurt a lot of people in the process. The movie doesn’t shy away from criticizing the Russian government. But the Chechen rebels don’t look so perfect, either.  Words of War manages to strike a delicate balance.

While Words of War may not depict Anna as the complex woman she was (nor really unpack her motives) it’s still a good story about freedom and bravery. It’s no wonder why someone decided this was the biopic 2025 needed. At the centre is a message that is ultimately perfect for the times we are in today. At a time where more and more nations are crawling towards outright censorship with the erosion of freedom of speech and the press, it’s a reminder that we need more people like Anna; people who risk everything because of their strong sense of humanity and the love they have for fellow people.

Words of War is now on VOD.