'My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow' Review

A totalitarian regime led by a leader with unchecked authority. A severe crackdown on investigative journalists. A government filled exclusively with zealous supporters. Federal agents with access to citizens' financial data and private details. Journalists critical of the ruling power who face harassment, threats, and potential legal consequences.

'My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow.'

Julia Loktev

What nation is being described here?

Although this may sound familiar, it’s not the United States under President Donald Trump’s second term; rather, it’s Russia in 2021, as depicted in Julia Loktev’s compelling 5 ½ hour documentary My Undesirable Friends.

In this revealing film, Loktev documents the lives of investigative journalists leading up to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, capturing the final remnants of an anti-authoritarian resistance before it was obliterated by the war. The documentary is thorough, at times overwhelming, offering an intimate view of journalism in a crumbling democracy, and urging us to pay attention, especially to its poignant conclusion, which hints at what could be in store for America.

The documentary’s full title is My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow, the first part of a two-film series that Loktev began filming in December 2021. The documentary unfolds in five chapters, following a group of female investigative journalists who were labeled as "foreign agents" under a harsh law aimed at silencing opposition to President Vladimir Putin. Despite the oppressive conditions, these courageous women persist, working under constant threat of arrest, continuing their journalism efforts until February 24, 2022, when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine fundamentally altered their lives.

Loktev, originally from St. Petersburg and raised in the U.S., connects with the journalists through her friend Anna Nemzer, a journalist for the independent TV Rain channel. Initially, the network operates freely within Russia, though subject to severe restrictions, including having to broadcast a disclaimer stating that all content is “lies spread by foreign agents.” Despite these oppressive measures, Nemzer and her colleagues continue their work, often finding inventive ways to navigate the system, as one reporter describes: “It’s like a wake, but a fun one.” However, Nemzer bluntly states, “Everything happening now is the rape of justice,” acknowledging that they all face a difficult choice between prosecution or exile.

Filming the journalists’ lives both at work and outside, Loktev vividly captures the escalating crackdown and the looming threat of war. The documentary feels raw and unfiltered, as if the director simply compiled all the footage without crafting a tightly structured narrative. While a more concise version could have been more dynamic, My Undesirable Friends prioritizes documenting the slow demise of a small democratic movement doomed to failure.

Among the key journalists featured are Ksenia Mironova, Sonya Groysman, Olga Churakova, Irina Dolinina, Aleysa Marokhovskaya, and Elena Kostyuchenko, each grappling with their “foreign agent” status, hiring lawyers to defend them in rigged courts. They endure constant harassment, from wiretapping to threatening messages, and face imprisonment or even assassination, as seen with opposition leaders like Boris Nemtsov.

As the documentary progresses, Mironova’s story comes to the forefront. A dedicated reporter for TV Rain, Mironova also deals with the imprisonment of her fiancé, Ivan Safronov, who faces a 22-year sentence. As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine draws nearer, Mironova, like her colleagues, realizes she must flee the country, uncertain of ever seeing her loved ones again.

The final chapters of the film, "The Expected Impossible" and "Don’t Say War," convey the tension felt by the group as the war becomes more imminent. Loktev’s film concludes with a haunting moment when Nemzer, driving through Moscow, sees fireworks above the Kremlin, signaling the start of the war—a grim echo of Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.

Loktev, known for her subtle and powerful indie thrillers Day Night Day Night (2006) and The Loneliest Planet (2011), delivers a slow-burn real-world thriller that resonates long after the credits roll. Her portrayal of life under a totalitarian regime eerily mirrors the environment emerging under Trump's administration, especially regarding his disdain for journalists critical of his actions.

Despite the grim prospects, the women at the heart of My Undesirable Friends showcase remarkable resilience. They continue to challenge the regime with wit, intelligence, and defiant humor, even as they are forced to leave Russia and continue their fight elsewhere. One reporter sums up their attitude perfectly during a gathering before the regime’s ultimate crackdown: “We’ve read books. We know what comes next.”