The film World War Zero, Lost in Action is about the Crimean War of 1853-1856. It follows an international group of scientists, who carry out excavations in Crimea and rebury the remains of fallen soldiers from all sides of the hostilities.
The film gives an account of the reasons for the war and sheds light on the chain of events. By the mid-19th century, the Russian Empire had become extremely influential and had started meddling in European affairs. It wanted to take advantage of the weakened state of the Ottoman Empire and grab territory. In the meantime, among other things, the British wanted to cut Russia off from the Black Sea. So the war, which started as another Russo-Turkish, eventually turned into the larger-scale precursor of WWI.
France and Britain joined the war on the Turkish side on the pretext of defending Turkey, and to protect supply chains running through the Black Sea. The Battle of Sinop on November 18, 1953, when the Russian Fleet under Admiral Nakhimov defeated the Turks, was the catalyst that started the Crimean War.
The initiative started by Pierre Malinowski, head of the Russian-French Relations Development Fund, made excavations around the city of Sevastopol to find and rebury soldiers fallen in the Crimean War. According to the records, casualties on all sides were roughly 309,000, with 153,000 Russian, 95,000 French, and 23,000 British soldiers.
Mr. Malinowski makes it a point to recognise and honour all fallen soldiers, regardless of the side they were on. He says they are all part of history, and must be respected and remembered. What amazing discoveries the scientists came across during the excavations are revealed in the film!
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