This book explores recent Russian and Ukrainian cinema to uncover the roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It examines how Russian cinema fosters patriotic narratives and unity, while Ukrainian films address colonial trauma and national identity. Russian and Ukrainian films depict their shared past quite differently, highlighting deep-rooted tensions between the two nations.

This book examines Russian and Ukrainian feature films to trace the roots and consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It argues that the cultural war stems from a colonial past, where Russia viewed Ukraine as an inferior "little brother." By examining cinematic representations of the countries’ shared history, this book reveals how Russia has used cinema to promote a strong, unified state and patriotic narratives, while Ukrainian cinema seeks to overcome colonial trauma and build a distinct national identity. It also investigates how cultural memories of Kyivan Rus, the Cossacks, World War II, the Soviet past, and the Russian war in Ukraine are depicted differently in Russian and Ukrainian cinema.