Title: ‘More relevant every day’: A filmmaker’s journey through Russia’s journalism landscape In an era where truth and transparency are increasingly under threat, the documentary “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow” by Julia Loktev offers a chilling glimpse into the lives of Russian journalists who have been labeled as ‘foreign agents’. The film was made just four months before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and provides an insightful look at how these individuals continue to work tirelessly despite being branded as suspect by their own government. Loktev, a US citizen born in the Soviet Union, set out to understand what it meant for journalists to be labeled ‘foreign agents’. She followed a group of young reporters working for TV Rain, Russia’s last independent television channel, and other independent journalists who had been deemed foreign agents. The documentary captures their struggles as they try to keep reporting the truth amidst increasing censorship and repression in Russia. The nature of Loktev’s film changed dramatically on February 24th, 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. In that first week of full-scale war, independent journalism became impossible in Russia. Many of the subjects of her documentary had to flee their homeland while others continue to work under immense pressure from the Russian government which has accused several news anchors of being extremist terrorists. The parallels drawn between these journalists and Sisyphus, a character in Greek mythology who was forced to push a boulder uphill only for it to roll down again, are striking. They represent resilience and determination in the face of overwhelming odds. Their stories serve as a stark reminder that truth will always find a way to surface, no matter how hard authorities try to suppress it. The significance of this documentary cannot be overstated. It provides an important historical context for understanding Russia’s ongoing crackdown on independent media and human rights groups. As we grapple with issues surrounding freedom of speech and press around the world, “My Undesirable Friends: Part I — Last Air in Moscow” serves as a powerful reminder that journalism is not just about reporting facts; it’s also about standing up for truth and justice even when the odds are stacked against you.
Source: [Original Article](https://www.npr.org/2026/02/05/nx-s1-5699392/my-undesirable-friends-russia-julia-loktev)
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