Words of War is a 2025 biographical drama directed by James Strong. The movie chronicles the life of Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya. Renowned for her fearless reporting on the Chechen conflict and criticism of Vladimir Putin’s regime, Politkovskaya faced numerous threats, including poisoning and intimidation, before her assassination in 2006. The film is about her relentless pursuit of truth amidst escalating dangers.
Movie Title: Words of War
Year of Release: 2025
Date of Release: May 2, 2025 (United States)
Director: James Strong
Writer: Eric Poppen
Producers: Miriam Segal, Mark Maxey, Sean Penn, Kia Jam
Production Companies: Rolling Pictures, Good Film Collective, K Jam Media
Distributor: Decal
Cast and Roles:
- Maxine Peake as Anna Politkovskaya
- Jason Isaacs as Alexander Politkovsky
- Ciarán Hinds as Dmitry Muratov
- Naomi Battrick as Vera Politkovskaya
- Harry Lawtey as Ilya Politkovsky
- Ellie Bamber as Elena Milashina
- Fady Elsayed as Anzor
Running Time: Not specified
Age Rating: Not yet rated
Countries: United States, United Kingdom
Language: English
Genre: Biographical Drama
Music: Snorri Hallgrímsson
Cinematography: Mike Eley
Editing: David Charap
Note:
The film was initially announced as Mother Russia at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. In 2024, Sean Penn joined as an executive producer.
