WAR TAILS
A Review by David Jackson
“You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
This is the quote on which WAR TAILS opens and it is the guiding principle of Khrystyna Drahomaretska’s and Dan Fine’s crusade. They have been working together since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to help rescue, sterilise and vaccinate as many stray animals as possible from the front lines of this ongoing war.
The film is prefaced by a content warning, and although the film does not contain any graphic imagery of death or injury, it is full of the most moving footage of animals in distress that will undoubtedly affect anyone who sees it. It's not possible to see an abandoned dog in a bombed-out building quivering with fear at the sound of explosions without being moved to tears, nor is it possible to remain dry-eyed by the sight of the same dog coming alive with the care and attention of the vets and volunteers of the Ukraine War Animal Fund.
While mostly focused on the rescue of stray animals, it also works as a powerful reminder of just how inhumane and brutal this war perpetrated by Russia has been for the people of Ukraine. The innumerable abandoned animals are shadowed by the untold human tragedies and atrocities that led their owners to flee. The persistent backdrop of bombed-out buildings and the detritus of war reinforce this message and the not-so-distant sound of artillery even makes its way into the talking heads.
This film lets the ambition and the tragedy of Ukraine War Animal Funds mission take centre stage. It is not showy or dramatic in its presentation. All it does is carefully document the tragedy of the stray animal crisis, and the actions of those brave enough to try and help, for the world to see.
The Ukraine War Animal Fund is doing important work that deserves our support and recognition, and such a powerful and moving film as WAR TAILS will undoubtedly help to generate this support.