Mr. Nobody Against Putin
In the small Russian town of Karabash, some 1,400 kilometres east of Moscow, Pavel “Pasha” Talankin stands in front of his class. He is a modest man, but beloved by his pupils for his humour and concern for their welfare. When Russia invades Ukraine, his school is transformed into a stage for state propaganda; flags are raised, history books are rewritten, and children are forced to parade and sing songs of praise to the army. Pasha is given the task of recording all this with his video camera. But his video reports show no jubilant patriotism, only a growing fear of war, the loss of freedom and the militarisation of an entire generation.
Despite this bleak picture, Talankin has managed to keep the film light-hearted and humorous. This “nobody” from the provinces turns out to be a gifted and sparkling storyteller who shows with razor-sharp precision the impact that state control bordering on totalitarianism has on everyday life. According to insiders, the film has a good chance of winning the Oscar for Best Documentary.
