‘Glory to the Heroes’ documents the resilience of those on Ukraine’s front lines

John Yang:

While aid for Ukraine has become entangled in a partisan fight on Capitol Hill, it 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 is happening in most of the world great capitals, 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 seem to have captured 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 plague of our time, and not to be 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 fighters, 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 say with all my respect 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.