Pretty Good

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I wouldn't say this film counts as propaganda even though there is a very obvious anti-Soviet narrative. I'm always turned off when a documentary doesn't respect its audience enough to remain impartial and just present the bare facts, and unfortunately I felt this with 'The Russian Woodpecker'. Gracia attempts to create intrigue by advertising that a deep secret explaining the Chernobyl incident has been uncovered, however, it's more of a conspiracy theory based largely on conjecture. All that being said, I found the interviews and stock footage to be very informative. This is more a documentary of Fedor Alexandrovich's protests against the current Russian government and the past soviet regime, than a in-detailed, factual account of either the Chernobyl or the Ukraine conflict.

After two minutes of watching it was clear that the "Russian" woodpecker is worthless propaganda movie about present situation in Ukraine and against the Russian government, not about Chernobyl catastrophe. A surreal story with elements of schizophrenia was mixed with worst kind of propaganda scenes from CNN, VOX and other one-sided channels about "revolution" or the violent coup in Ukraine. The only things worth watching were some mentioned names and terms that could be further investigated. The point about the Chernobyl catastrophe as deliberate act by some Soviet minister to hide Duga radar inefficiency is fictional and does not match the facts. The system operated from July 1976 to December 1989 and had two operational radars, one near Chernobyl and Chernihiv in Ukraine, the other in eastern Siberia. Disabling of access and examination of a just one radar with no less than deliberate nuclear disaster with all consequences to hide malfunctioning of whole system which worked for three years after the catastrophe is delusional.One of the worst and most misleading "documentaries" that I have watched.

I saw this documentary at the Washington DC film festival, and loved it! It is an investigation into the Chernobyl disaster, along with ongoing issues between Russia and Ukraine. It is a suspenseful documentary that draws you in from the first minutes. Fedor, the protagonist, is a very artistic and unique person; he acts heroically in the face of true danger. Fedor is both an artist and an investigator in this film. The story of how he came to investigate the "Russian Woodpecker," is told thoughtfully by the film makers. I highly recommend seeing this true life, and very relevant, documentary. The cinematography is wonderful as well. I loved this documentary!!!

We have all been told the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was an accident. This movie presents a frightening case that it was no accident. By revisiting the available facts and through multiple interviews, the movie leads us through a maze that eventually points the finger at communist politicians in Moscow. If this incident happened in a vacuum it could be hard to believe. However, if you look at Ukrainian-Russian relations over the past 100 years a pattern develops. In the 1930's a famine orchestrated by Moscow killed millions of Ukrainians. After WWII Moscow orchestrated the execution and exile of many more. Today, we have the instigation and military support of "rebels" in Eastern Ukraine leading to thousands of more deaths. Successive Russian governments have repeatedly shown a callousness to the value of a life, especially a Ukrainian life. Suddenly the case made in this movie follows a shocking but established pattern and provides a warning for all of us.