Russian students are being presented with an ultra-nationalist curriculum, full of militarism and hatred toward Ukraine. The young teacher Pavel Talankin filmed the indoctrination of Russian children and smuggled the footage abroad for a documentary.
With his camera, this teacher documents life at a school in the Russian provinces. He shows how, after the invasion of Ukraine, propaganda and nationalism gradually seep into education. He has now fled the country.
While recording how the school carries out the government’s directives, he realizes he now has unique footage. Through contacts he gets in touch with an American director. Together they decide to make a documentary: “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.”
Since the invasion of Ukraine, new textbooks have been written in Russia in which the war against Ukraine is justified and excused. President Putin is rewriting history and shaping a new generation of loyal Putin supporters.
Meanwhile, the performance of ordinary students is declining, as becomes clear during staff meetings.
Talankin films everything, including the visit from the controversial Wagner Group and the forced military drills, such as shooting practice and grenade throwing.
To make this film, he had to flee, because criticizing President Putin’s new education policy is simply not possible in Russia.
Coming to theaters on 2026-01-15
Asking westerners to think critically about a country they’ve been told is evil? That’s a downvote lol
There’s nothing people like more than blind hate. Black and white thinking is way easier than nuance, and groupthink-based anger releases a shit-ton of dopamine.
Critical thoughts that go against the groupthink are dangerous, because the consequences are social ostracism or worse. At this point, Western liberalism is just one purity test after another, and if you fail once, that means you’re Evil.