With unprecedented access to Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir, who together dominated the heavyweight boxing world for more than a decade, Klitschko: More than a Fight captures the longest serving Mayor of Kyiv as he holds his city together in the face of constant Russian aggression.
The film traces Vitali’s journey from the ring to the highest office in Kyiv. It witnesses his rise through the city’s political ranks during the 2014 Maidan revolution and how he won massive support with his campaign against corruption. But his true metal was tested and proven as he helped bolster the city’s morale during the first days of the Russian invasion in February 2022, and subsequent aerial bombardment by its army. At the same time, Wladimir used his celebrity status to raise funds and military support, helping to ensure the conflict remains in the minds of the world’s leaders and populace.
Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald (High & Low: John Galliano, One Day in September, Touching the Void) draws on a wealth of archive and personal footage, alongside new interviews, to tell the brothers’ story, from their Soviet childhood, through their sporting career, to their current role helping to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty. It’s a riveting portrait of the strength it takes to hold a city and country together during times of conflict and shows us, as Macdonald notes, ‘what bravery and resilience really mean’.
Content Guidance: Film contains scenes of war.
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Competitions
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Topics
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Premiere statusWorld premiere
Film details
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Director(s)Kevin Macdonald, Edgar Dubrovskiy
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Country(s)United Kingdom
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Year2024
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Duration96 mins
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Executive producer(s)Poppy Dixon, Hayley Reynolds, Vesna Cudic, Felix Kempter, Nick Fraser, Duncan Heath, Leo Hoesch, Kevin Macdonald
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Producer(s)lawrence Elman, Sophie Daniel
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CinematographyEdgar Dubrovskiy
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EditingAndrew Cross
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MusicTom KG Hodge
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Language(s)English, Ukrainian, German, Russian
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Certification
