Watch Welcome to Chechnya

Welcome to Chechnya is a powerful and haunting documentary from director David France that takes a deep dive into the deadly conflict between the Russian republic of Chechnya and the LGBTQ+ community. Shot over the course of several years and using hidden-camera footage and interviews with activists, the film paints a compelling and harrowing picture of the lives of queer people in one of the most dangerous places on earth.

The film begins by introducing us to a group of LGBTQ+ activists who have created an underground network to help queer Chechens escape the country. Using fake passports, smugglers, and safe houses, these courageous individuals risk their lives to rescue others and bring them to safety in other countries.

One of the most powerful aspects of Welcome to Chechnya is the filmmakers' use of technology to protect the identities of the film's subjects. Because being identified as queer in Chechnya can result in imprisonment, torture, and even death, the filmmakers have employed cutting-edge facial replacement and voice alteration software to protect the identities of the individuals they interview. The results are astounding - we get to see their faces and hear their stories, while also understanding the level of danger they face.

We meet several of these brave individuals, including Maxim, a young man who was kidnapped and tortured by Chechen authorities because of his sexuality, and Anya, a lesbian who was forced into a marriage with a man to hide her true identity. Their stories are heart-wrenching, but also inspiring - despite the unimaginable danger they face, they refuse to be silenced or let the world turn a blind eye to their suffering.

The film also shines a light on the horrifying extent of the Chechen government's persecution of LGBTQ+ people. We see footage of police interrogating and torturing suspected queer individuals, often in front of their families. We hear accounts of so-called "gay purges," in which hundreds of queer Chechens have been rounded up, imprisoned, and even killed. It's a chilling reminder of the horrors that can occur under authoritarian regimes, and a call to action for the international community to do more to protect queer people around the world.

One of the most striking moments in the film comes near the end, when we see footage of a young man named Grisha, one of the subjects of the documentary, finally arriving in Canada after a harrowing journey to escape Chechnya. The tears in his eyes and the look of gratitude on his face are a testament to the power of the human spirit - even in the face of unimaginable cruelty and oppression, there is still hope for a better future.

Overall, Welcome to Chechnya is a must-see documentary that offers a window into the lives of people who are too often silenced or ignored. Through powerful storytelling and innovative filmmaking techniques, it bears witness to the atrocities being committed against queer Chechens and challenges us to do more to help those who are suffering.

Welcome to Chechnya is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9 and a MetaScore of 86.