Julia Loktev’s documentary series, “My Undesirable Friends,” returns with its second installment, “Part II: Exile,” continuing to chronicle the lives of Russian journalists who fled their home country following increased repression under President Vladimir Putin’s government. The film picks up after the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, focusing on the experiences of dissident reporters now living and working in exile.
The first installment, “Part I: Last Air in Moscow,” documented the struggles of independent journalists—many affiliated with TV Rain, one of Russia's last independent television outlets—as they faced government designations as “foreign agents” and intensified crackdowns. Loktev’s portrayal of these reporters revealed their resilience and camaraderie amid an escalating climate of state violence and censorship. When the invasion of Ukraine began, their precarious situation deteriorated further, forcing them to leave Russia for safety but compelling them to continue their reporting abroad.
“My Undesirable Friends Part II: Exile” follows several of these journalists as they navigate life in exile across a range of cities including Istanbul, Kyiv, Prague, Tbilisi, Riga, and New York. The film centers on TV Rain host and mother Anya, co-director of the documentary, along with younger reporters Sonya and Ksyusha—the latter grappling with the imprisonment of her fiancé—a seasoned writer Lena, and investigative journalists Ira and Alesya. The narrative extends to cover other figures such as Petya, a Russian, and Natalka, his Ukrainian wife, reporting tandem, and 20-something TV Rain host Lera.
Throughout the film’s six-hour runtime, Loktev explores the challenges these journalists face: maintaining professional trust with sources, coping with feelings of isolation and guilt about leaving Russia, and confronting an increasingly distant homeland under an authoritarian regime. Despite uncertainty and hardship, the journalists remain committed to exposing truths about Putin’s government and the ongoing conflict.
The documentary offers intimate scenes of the journalists’ daily lives intermixed with moments of levity and solidarity. It portrays the toll of displacement alongside the persistent drive to report in the face of danger. The film’s itinerant structure and intimate approach underscore the precarious position of independent Russian media outside their country’s borders amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent.
By documenting the continuing efforts of these reporters amid political upheaval and personal sacrifice, “My Undesirable Friends Part II: Exile” provides a nuanced and empathetic portrait of journalistic resistance in the current autocratic era. The film highlights the complex interplay of survival, responsibility, and defiance characterizing opposition voices from Russia today.