Documentary about everyday life on the front: Joko and Klaas show everyday life on the Ukrainian front

A drone pilot, a surgeon, a city administration employee, an evacuation helper and a police officer tell and describe the horror of the Russian war of aggression, which has now lasted more than 1,560 days. According to the broadcaster, a contact person living in Ukraine conducted the interviews with those affected.

The documentary begins with the words of a protagonist: “Some time ago they sent us cameras to Ukraine and asked: What would you tell people about your everyday life? What should they see? This is what we want to show you. This is what our days look like. This is our life. Don’t look away.” The documentary ends with the words: “When war comes, it’s so shocking. It changes everything. That’s why we live in the moment.”

The topic of free broadcasting time was a big secret

Once again, Joko and Klaas gave the airtime they earned to people and images that, from their point of view, should be heard and seen. Instead of the usual 15 minutes, Joko and Klaas showed an around 200-minute – and ad-free – documentary. On Wednesday they prevailed against their house station in an evening show – and got free airtime in return. How the two wanted to use this was previously a secret.

In the documentary, the protagonists change constantly. Surgeon Andriy can be seen bandaging the arm of a seriously injured man and saying that bodies would also be brought in. Then people who have lost their loved ones are shown crying loudly. Olha, an employee of a municipal enterprise of the Kherson City Council, walks through destroyed apartments. An 81-year-old resident says if she had been there when the drone hit, she would be dead now.

Why does this suffering affect us?

Drone pilot Dmytro shows dozens of drones standing on the floor of an apartment and says: “Our drones that are going to kill today.” While a policewoman asks with a desperate look: “Why is this suffering happening to us?” At the end, doctor Andriy says that he really wishes that there would never be such a terrible war again. But he has the impression that the war will never end. He really wants to go back to his wife. Says the 39-year-old.

When the protagonists walk through residential areas with their hand-held cameras, the scenery often seems peaceful at first – until house ruins, charred cars, heavily armed and severely traumatized people stand in front of the cameras and reveal the depressing reality.

Joko (47) and Klaas (42) have also been using their formats at ProSieben for years for social and political topics – such as sea rescue, right-wing extremism or women’s rights. The two entertainers are among the station’s most important faces. Productions like “Joko & Klaas versus ProSieben” regularly reach a large audience. They are considered important ratings drivers for the station.