Crimea. The Way Home

Crimea. The Way Home () is a Russian pseudo-documentary television film about the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014. The film premiered both on Russian channel Rossiya 1 and on YouTube on March 15, 2015. The film features an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosing various aspects of Crimean crisis. Putin, in particular, revealed that he had taken personal charge of Crimean annexation and that in case of "unfavorable scenario on the peninsula" Russia could have placed its nuclear weapons on combat readiness. Before the film's release the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk asked the Ukrainian Ministry of Justice to send the film to the International Criminal Court.
Production.
The film was produced over the course of eight months in Sevastopol, Simferopol, Kerch, Yalta and other Crimean localities. Aside from Putin's interview, other interviews with participants and witnesses of Crimean crisis were recorded. A total of 398 hours were shot, of which roughly 2.5 hours were chosen for the film.
Reception.
According to TNS Gallup Media, on the next day after the premiere the film had a TV rating of 40.6%. In Moscow, the film was watched by over 3 million people. The film was not without its critics in Russia, such as Liya Akhedzhakova and Victor Shenderovich.
The Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs said that Putin's words about the Crimean reunion only confirm what was already known or suspected in the European Union.
Awards and nominations.
On 25 July 2015, the film was a nominee in the category "TV Event of the Season" at Russia's 19th annual TEFI awards, and won a special jury prize "For the comprehension of contemporary history". On 25 August 2015, it received the Grand Prix of the 16th International TV & Cinema Forum "Together" in Yalta.