The Natural History of Destruction

Inspired by W.G. Sebald’s work and drawing on a wealth of archival World War II footage, acclaimed Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa reignites the debate over wartime practices still common today, such as aerial bombing and the use of civilians. Using rare and reconstructed footage from both sides of the conflict—almost entirely without words—Loznitsa crafts a powerful film that echoes Sebald’s haunting question: can mass destruction ever be justified in the name of “moral ideals”? The question remains as urgent now as it was 80 years ago, its relevance tragically underscored by current events in Eastern Europe and beyond.