MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN
(directors: David Borenstein/Pavel Talankin; screenwriter: David Borenstein; cinematographer: Pavel Talankin; editors: Rebekka Lonqvist, Nicolaj Monberg; music: Michal Rataj, Jonas Struck; cast: Vladamir Putin, Pavel Talankin (Narrator); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: David Borenstein; Kino Lorber; 2025)-Denmark/UK/Germany/Czech Republic-in Russian with English subtitles)
“It’s a don’t miss “fuck you” film to Putin.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
The American filmmaker based in Europe, David Borenstein (“Dream Empire”), and the fun-loving Russian primary school teacher (K-12), the 33-year-old Pavel Talankin, the school’s videographer, co-direct this intimate insider’s view of Russia at war. It’s filmed by Pavel and written by David to contradict the lies of Putin’s war propaganda, as a Danish-Czech co-production.
Pavel is from the polluted small mining town of Karbash in the Ural Mountains, and teaches in the same school he attended and dearly loves. He’s a non-conformist who advocates for democracy and openly pushes back when Putin after invading Ukraine in 2022 initiates a “patriotic education policy,” as he lies about the reasons for the invasion, adds a nationalist Nazi-like curriculum all schools must follow, and orders military drills.
Bravely Pavel uses his position to offer a safe space for students to hang-out, and works as a videographer while encouraging his frightened town to fight back against being brainwashed by the ruthless autocrat. To make the documentary, he smuggles out what he films as a videographer to Borenstein in Denmark.
Eventually the intrepid patriot finds for his safety he must move to an undisclosed location. The film stands as a tribute to his courageous acts as a ‘nobody’ to take on a powerful madman ruler and make a tremendous difference for those in his country that value freedom. It’s a don’t miss “fuck you” film to Putin. Though it has some flaws, like at times it runs on for too long and it could have used better pacing.
It played at the Sundance Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 3/22/2026 GRADE: A-
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