My Undesirable Friends: A Documentary on Press Freedom in Russia

When Truth Becomes a Crime

Imagine being told that your livelihood—your very purpose—is now illegal. In Russia, where independent journalism has been systematically dismantled under Vladimir Putin's regime, this isn't just a hypothetical scenario; it's the lived reality of countless reporters and media workers. Julia Loktev's 'My Undesirable Friends' is a documentary series that captures this tragedy with unprecedented intimacy and urgency.

"If her epic, Oscar-shortlisted documentary 'My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 — Last Air In Moscow' pulled off an astonishing feat, chronicling the last gasps of press freedom in Vladimir Putin's Russia in real time, docmaker Julia Loktev somehow manages to raise the stakes in the film's arresting sequel."

The first part of this series, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and won acclaim for its raw portrayal of media suppression, focused on the months leading up to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now, in Part 2 — 'Exile,' Loktev picks up where the first left off: just two days after the initial raid on the independent news station TV Rain, her subjects are scrambling to escape.

The Real-Time Chronicle of a Disappearing World

What began as a simple documentary about a group of journalists declared 'foreign agents' by the Kremlin has evolved into a sweeping, Tolstoyan epic. Over nearly 12 hours across 10 chapters, Loktev documents not only the political upheaval but also the personal cost—families torn apart, careers erased, and lives forever altered.

Beginning in the fall of 2021, 'Last Air In Moscow' captured the final moments of an independent press before it was effectively outlawed. Part 2 begins just two days later, following her subjects as they flee their homeland. The film reveals a 'strange nomadic existence'—documenting these journalists from Istanbul to Amsterdam, Prague to New York.

Using only her trusted iPhone X, Loktev films her subjects at their most unguarded, revealing moments of fear, vulnerability, and, above all, courage. These aren't actors performing roles; they are real people living through history as it unfolds around them.

A Mirror to Our Own Democracy

Though set in a different country and time, the themes resonate with American audiences who have witnessed similar assaults on civil liberties during recent administrations. Loktev herself notes that she didn't expect the documentary to become so wide-ranging or impactful. She was documenting a group of journalists under threat—she never imagined she would be capturing history itself.

One powerful moment in the film sees one of the protagonists compose a message to her younger self: “Stay alarmed, be hysterical if you need to, and know that it's very easy to lose your country.” This warning echoes through Loktev's own work and serves as a chilling reminder for viewers everywhere.

"We have to be very aware of the fear where we internalize the pressures. Where you don't say something you could have said. Where you don't do something you could have done," Loktev says. "I think we're all plenty anxious now… Hopefully that doesn't become an anxiety that is paralyzing. It should be an anxiety that is mobilizing."

What makes this series particularly poignant is how it mirrors the current climate of fear and conformity within American political discourse. As we've seen in recent years, there are already echoes of the same patterns—demonstrations of the dangers posed when free speech is curtailed, when the press is treated as an enemy, when truth becomes a crime.

From Moscow to New York: The Journey of Exile

The second part of the series focuses on what happens after fleeing the country. It's not just about leaving—it's about starting over, finding new communities, rebuilding lives while carrying the weight of their past. These journalists don't simply escape; they become exiles in their own homes.

As Loktev films them in cities across Europe and the United States, we see how adaptation becomes survival. Their stories are a testament to resilience, but also to the tragic cost of having been silenced. They're no longer just journalists—they're refugees from a system that has rejected them.

The film doesn't shy away from showing how even the most determined individuals struggle to maintain their sense of self in such chaotic circumstances. There's a deep emotional toll, captured not through grand gestures but through small moments—quiet conversations, fleeting glances, and shared silence.

A Cultural and Political Wake-Up Call

'My Undesirable Friends' is more than a documentary—it's a wake-up call. It forces us to confront the fragility of press freedom, especially in an era where authoritarianism is on the rise globally. By focusing on real people whose lives have been upended, Loktev makes the abstract notion of political oppression tangible and immediate.

In the end, what emerges is a powerful narrative about truth-telling in a world that increasingly prefers to ignore it. This isn't just about Russia—it's about every society that values freedom of expression and fears losing its voice. As Loktev puts it, the real danger lies not in the immediate threat but in the gradual erosion of our collective conscience.

Watching 'My Undesirable Friends' is like watching a mirror held up to ourselves—a stark reflection of what happens when we allow fear to replace courage and silence to replace speech. It's a film that demands action, not just empathy.