
‘Glory to the Heroes’ shows resilience amid war in Ukraine
Clip: 12/24/2023 | 8m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
‘Glory to the Heroes’ documents the resilience of those on Ukraine’s front lines
With aid for Ukraine caught in a partisan fight on Capitol Hill, it can be easy to lose sight of the human toll of the war. In a new documentary “Glory to the Heroes,” director Bernard-Henri Lévy turns the focus back on those he calls the heroes, from the fighters on the front lines to the civilians who remain in Ukraine in an act of defiance. Ali Rogin speaks with Lévy about the film.
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‘Glory to the Heroes’ shows resilience amid war in Ukraine
Clip: 12/24/2023 | 8m 10sVideo has Closed Captions
With aid for Ukraine caught in a partisan fight on Capitol Hill, it can be easy to lose sight of the human toll of the war. In a new documentary “Glory to the Heroes,” director Bernard-Henri Lévy turns the focus back on those he calls the heroes, from the fighters on the front lines to the civilians who remain in Ukraine in an act of defiance. Ali Rogin speaks with Lévy about the film.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipit can be easy to lose sight of what's at stake# in the war and the human toll it's taking.
In## a new documentary Glory to the Heroes, French# writer and filmmaker Bernard-Henri Levy turns## the focus back on those he calls the heroes,# not just the fighters on the front lines,## but also the civilians whose decision to remain# in Ukraine is in itself an act of defiance.
From the flooded streets of Kherosn after# Russia destroyed a dam under its control,## to the Eastern Front were battles raised# in Bakhmut from Kharkiv in the north and## Odesa in the South.
Viewers experience Ukraine# summer counter offensive through Levy's lens.
Ali Rogin recently sat down with# Bernard-Henri Levy to discuss the film.
ALI ROGIN: Bernard-Henri Levy, thank# you so much.
Welcome back.
You say at## the beginning of this film, that your# goal is to make sure that Ukraine does## not become a forgotten war.
Do you# think it's at risk of becoming one?
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY, Filmmaker, "Glory to# The Heroes": There was a risk and what is## happening these days on Capitol Hill.
What increase the risk.
There is a fatigue about# Ukraine.
And this worries me so much I did## this film.
I went on frontline, I went in# the trenches in order to try to prevent## this becoming a forgotten war, which# is the worst for people to be victim## or forgotten -- of a forgotten war.
It# is the worst Destiny possible on Earth.
ALI ROGIN: Ever since this full# scale invasion of Ukraine began## there have been many conflicts all over# the world.
But none the attention of the world quite like# the war between Israel and Hamas.
I## don't mean to diminish the importance of# that conflict by asking this question.
But are you concerned that the# war in the Middle East is taking## attention away from what's happening in Ukraine?
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: It's an illness of our# time, a pl able to focus our attention on two things at# the same time.
We have to understand the war## of Hamas against Israel.
The war of Putin# of Russia against Ukraine are two parts## of the same picture.
For many regards.# The actors are linked on the two sides.
Hamas and Putin are linked we know that.
We know# that Moscow is the only big capital in the world## where Hamas was received with red carpet before# the October 7 forum and after the October 7 forum.
ALI ROGIN: You visited Ukraine this was your 11th# trip there since the beginning of this war.
One of## the things that struck me the most was when you# were embedded with soldiers on the frontlines.## One soldier says, if we had more ammunition, we# could finish the job.
Do you agree with that?
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: I'm more than agree.
I saw# it.
I saw how they have 20 shelves for the week,## and they don't know when a# new delivery will come.
And## they haven't done yet.
How many would# they use?
One?
Two?
Three?
Not more.
So the scarcity, the non-delivery,# though your lack of promises,## or the betraying of promises of the West, this# is a reality of which I am a personnel witness.
ALI ROGIN: Another reality that you# capture is the incredible resilience,## the passion of the Ukrainian# people, the civilians, the fighters,## what did you take away about those# moments with the Ukrainian people?
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: My family is entitled# Glory to the Heroes I mean it.
These## guys who come with the violin, with their# music instruments with who try to rehands,## upgrade the morale of the troop of soldiers who# lost their brothers, a few hours before.
The old## lady who is growing some cucumbers and some# tomato, on the Makkadam (ph) of her Street,## the house is destroyed.
There is just# the pavement of the street.
And there,## she puts some (inaudible) and she grows from# cucumber.
She's a hero too, and she will not move.
ALI ROGIN: Another really striking set of moments# in the film is when you talk to Russian captives,## prisoners of war, who have been# captured, they are incredibly## demoralized.
And then you contrast that# with the spirit of Ukrainian fi men who have lost limbs, and who can't# wait to get back on the front lines.
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: As you will say, I had your# chance and a privilege to film both.
And I see the## difference.
The Russians were really poor guys.# They were taken out of jail.
They were brought on## frontline, nobody told us that they will fight.# They were sold lie slave for 25,000 rubles each## by the official officers of the official army# to a private companies like Wagner, you know.
So when you compare that the high morale# of the Ukrainians, and the low or no moral,## not morale at all, of the Russians, there is# a logic since the antiquity you cannot win a## war when you don't know why you do it.
And you# cannot lose it when you have such a high morale.
Now, the question of the weapon without# F-16, without French Caesar cannons,## of course, the war will last, so it has# to end quickly with the capitulation of## the Russian army, which is logical if# we deliver what is needed for that.
ALI ROGIN: And to that end, what is your message# to lawmakers as they debate funding for this war.
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: I'm here since a# few days.
I hear that the borders are## a big topic here at the Congress# and so on border, border, border.
ALI ROGIN: Right.
Funding# is connected to our border.
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: I want border.
Okay.# I would like to to speak of Johnson to Senator# Graham that the border of America,## the border of Europe today is in Ukraine.# Those who defend the border of these brave## Ukrainian fighters whom I depict in dust in# my movie and others, the border is there.
If we let Putin win the war, or even lose it# half, it would be a terrible signal given to## all those who hate the liberal values, the# democratic way of life, the sense of freedom,## which are cherished, still in a big part of# Europe and North America.
It will be horrible,## terrible signal given to all the enemies# of that in our countries and around.
ALI ROGIN: The new documentary is Glory to the# Heroes.
Bernard-Henri Levy, thank you so much.
BERNARD-HENRI LEVY: Thank you, Ali.
Thank you.
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