A documentary exposing the systematic political indoctrination of Russian schoolchildren has won a major award, even as its co-director remains unable to return to his homeland. Mr. Nobody Against Putin, directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25th, detailing how a Russian teacher secretly filmed the escalating pro-war propaganda within his school in the Ural Mountains.
Talankin, a former student and videographer at the school, began documenting the mandated “patriotic education” sessions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The film captures the increasing militarization of the school environment and the efforts to instill pro-government narratives among students, according to reports from the premiere.
In a pre-recorded message played at the Sundance screening, Talankin expressed a simple hope for the film: “I don’t know if you are going to love this film or not, but I hope you will see more love in it than war.” He also acknowledged the risks he took, and continues to face, by creating the documentary. Talankin has since sought asylum in Europe and is unable to return to Russia, leaving behind his mother and friends.
The filmmakers consulted with the BBC to establish security protocols as the project progressed, recognizing the growing danger to Talankin. As Russia implemented increasingly restrictive laws – including legislation criminalizing dissent and labeling independent voices as “foreign agents” – the team accelerated plans to extract Talankin from the country. Borenstein described a turning point where the project shifted from a manageable risk to one that could cost Talankin his life, prompting him to consider halting production.
“This went from being something that was quite possible and I was relaxed about doing in Russia, to something that would completely end [Talankin’s] life,” Borenstein explained during a post-screening Q&A. “So, at every stage we had to really think about what we were doing, and there were points actually where I was trying to stop him.” He credited Talankin’s unwavering commitment to exposing the truth as the driving force behind the film’s completion.
Talankin is being compensated for his work on the film, with Borenstein stating, “There is a production budget for this film, and he did the entire production.” Despite being unable to attend the Sundance premiere in person, Talankin participated via video link, sharing a message from a teacher at his former school: “Pasha, you are such an asshole.”
The documentary has already garnered significant attention, being shortlisted for an Oscar and acquired for distribution by Kino Lorber. The film’s release comes as concerns grow over the Kremlin’s efforts to control the narrative surrounding the war in Ukraine and suppress internal opposition. A recent report highlighted the extent of pro-war indoctrination in Russian schools, mirroring the footage captured by Talankin.
As word of the film spreads within Russia, Talankin has reportedly received messages of support from individuals who share his hope for a peaceful future. One message, shared during the Sundance Q&A, read, “Even while being in Russia, we believe in peace and love, and we definitely believe that the war is going to end and the morning is going to start, and this morning is going to support us feel and be happy.”
