Sean Penn's 'Superpower' premieres at Berlinale amid controversy

Sean Penn's film 'Superpower,' co-directed with Aaron Kaufman, had its world premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. The movie is not a documentary about Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukraine but a cinematic narrative centered on Penn himself, who uses his celebrity to draw attention to humanitarian aid while placing himself at the forefront as director, narrator, interviewer, and interviewee. Penn described it as 'not a war film, but a love story—the confession of love for a country.' The title references a line from a TV series in which Zelensky becomes president. The film shows Penn in Kyiv during the invasion, at press conferences, traveling across Ukraine, at the Polish border, and visiting trenches in Donbas. Critics note Penn's omnipresence can be overwhelming. In a press conference, Penn stated he is 'happy to be considered someone who does propaganda' but does not believe the film is an apology because he 'only told the truth.' He called Putin a 'war criminal' and said the film should not serve as a platform for him. The film includes a scene where Penn, dressed in military attire, approaches the eastern front accompanied by Justin Melland's soundtrack. Penn emphasized the need for 'long-range precision missiles' for Ukraine and warned that 'if Russia wins, we are all screwed.'