Mr. Nobody Against Putin

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Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Jan 2026

1h 30m

Documentary

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100%

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45 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Pavel "Pasha" (33) is a teacher and event organizer at a small primary school in a Russian town with a population of 10,000. In ordinary times, he is a beloved mentor, prankster, and nonconformist, known for hanging up democracy posters and offering a safe haven in his office for students who feel out of place. However, after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Pasha took on the role of an international whistleblower, exposing the devastating effects of Russia's aggressive militarization within its own schools. Haunted by his painful years as a student at the same school, Pasha remains a lighthearted and mischievous presence on campus. Yet his mission as a teacher is challenged when a new patriotic education policy is introduced during the early weeks of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pasha is shocked to learn that his responsibilities now include facilitating daily state-sanctioned propaganda events. To cope with his guilt and feelings of powerlessness, he decides to document how the war is transforming his school. Under the guise of his actual role as the school's videographer, he records hundreds of hours of footage inside classrooms and on school grounds. What emerges is the story of an institution abruptly transformed: propaganda, repressive new laws, militarized children's organizations, and the eventual recruitment of graduating students to fight in Ukraine. Pasha reaches his emotional breaking point as he films farewell parties for cherished students being sent to the frontlines in Ukraine. As the body bags return, Pasha and the rest of the school community grapple with the twin traumas of violence and repression. When Pasha learns his own life may be in danger, he is forced to plan a daring escape from Russia.

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Critics Consensus

Chronicling one whistleblower's uphill struggle with clear-eyed insight, Mr. Nobody Against Putin is a powerful documentary that vividly illustrates the resilience of everyday people against institutional forces.

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G. Allen Johnson

San Francisco Chronicle

Mar 23

4/4

To show a totalitarian country in pure propaganda mode is instructive and impactful.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Jan 30

3.5/4

The guiding intelligence and pervading mournfulness is all Pasha’s as he watches the light in his students' eyes slowly dim to darkness.

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Leslie Felperin

The Hollywood Reporter

Jan 29

[A] touching, intimate chronicle.

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Tom Cassidy

Common Sense Media

Mar 25

4/5

Winner of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar at the 2026 Academy Awards, this film is a sharp warning about what happens when governments rewrite history, deny truths, and punish independent thought.

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Michael J. Casey

Metro Arts

Mar 21

3.5/5

Cinema of (predictable) resistance.

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Al Alexander

Movies Thru the Spectrum

Mar 20

A

The Oscar-winning "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" is everything a documentary should be: timely, informative, entertaining and most of all relatable. Oh, yeah, and fronted by a hugely likeable narrator in Pavel ''Sasha' Talankin.

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Ray Y

@user1343290-8751s 14h

The most revealing part of Mr. Nobody Against Putin isn’t the film itself, but the reviews orbiting it. A predictable chorus reframes it as propaganda, not by engaging with what’s shown, but by preemptively dismissing anything that challenges their preferred narrative. It’s less critique, more reflex. What stands out is the symmetry they refuse to see: distrust of institutions is valid, but only when it serves their side. The moment the lens turns outward, skepticism becomes denial. The film becomes a Rorschach test; not for truth, but for allegiance. In the end, the reactions say more than the documentary. Not about Russia, not about politics, but about how easily conviction replaces curiosity when identity is at stake. The most dangerous thing we have before us is a group of free citizens blind from its own ambitions, willingly snuffing out liberalism that freed humanity from much suffering better than any other ideology, ever.

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William W

@FireMusicTaste_88 4d

This was a really introspective look into the oppressive regime of Russia and its involvement indoctrinating kids into joining the war against Ukraine. You were able to emphasize with every person in the doc and understand the circumstances everybody came from.

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Bella T

@RT94900603 4d

The history teacher in this film was right; if you're that upset about what the country is doing then leave. It's ironic how he is against wars and seems to be pro-human rights and yet seems to be pro the U.S with the Mcdonalds merch t-shirt scene. The only propaganda I saw here was what came out of his mouth.

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Doug K.

@RT48135885 Mar 21

It was about him and not Putin or the children, shame on him

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Ivan S

@Vanhill Mar 19

An example of impotence of conformity of the russian pseudo opposition. Separately, I am shocked how he betrayed the children and left them to the regime to punish.

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Scott M

@RT75128960 Mar 17

Thoughtful. Tries hard to be controversial. But I already know what Russia is like. Many of the people he films in the doc are so nervous on camera. So sad that their friends and family are dying.

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David Borenstein

Director

Pasha Talankin

Self

David Borenstein

Screenwriter

Helle Faber

Producer

Pavel Ilyich Talankin

Cinematographer

Nicolaj Monberg

Film Editing

Mr. Nobody Against Putin: Trailer 1

2:05

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Synopsis

Pavel "Pasha" (33) is a teacher and event organizer at a small primary school in a Russian town with a population of 10,000. In ordinary times, he is a beloved mentor, prankster, and nonconformist, known for hanging up democracy posters and offering a safe haven in his office for students who feel out of place. However, after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Pasha took on the role of an international whistleblower, exposing the devastating effects of Russia's aggressive militarization within its own schools. Haunted by his painful years as a student at the same school, Pasha remains a lighthearted and mischievous presence on campus. Yet his mission as a teacher is challenged when a new patriotic education policy is introduced during the early weeks of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pasha is shocked to learn that his responsibilities now include facilitating daily state-sanctioned propaganda events. To cope with his guilt and feelings of powerlessness, he decides to document how the war is transforming his school. Under the guise of his actual role as the school's videographer, he records hundreds of hours of footage inside classrooms and on school grounds. What emerges is the story of an institution abruptly transformed: propaganda, repressive new laws, militarized children's organizations, and the eventual recruitment of graduating students to fight in Ukraine. Pasha reaches his emotional breaking point as he films farewell parties for cherished students being sent to the frontlines in Ukraine. As the body bags return, Pasha and the rest of the school community grapple with the twin traumas of violence and repression. When Pasha learns his own life may be in danger, he is forced to plan a daring escape from Russia.

Director: David Borenstein
Producer: Helle Faber
Screenwriter: David Borenstein
Distributor: Kino Lorber
Production Co: ZDF/Arte, Pink Productions, Made in Copenhagen
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Russian
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 21, 2026, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 22, 2026
Box Office (Gross USA): $114.1K
Runtime: 1h 30m

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