"Mr. Nobody Against Putin": Karen Shainyan's big interview with the director who "smuggled" the film out of Russia

12 марта на YouTube-канале Карена Шаиняна вышло большое интервью с Pasha Talankin, the hero and creator of a documentary film that was at the center of the world film season. The film "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" (in some publications the title is "Mr. Nobody Against Putin"), which focuses on life in an industrial city Karabash, explores how Russian state propaganda is eroding people's consciousness and affects the lives of ordinary citizens. The film has been nominated for an Oscar in the "Best Documentary Feature" category.

In the interview, Talankin describes in detail his risky departure from Russia: he literally “smuggled” hard drives containing the materials out of the country, fearing inspection at the border. The condition for the film's release was his permanent departure from the country, which was a difficult decision for him and led to a state similar to depression.

The interview focuses particularly on personal dramas. Pasha recalls how his mother, who works at a school, said before watching the movie that I would turn him in to the police for his “wrong” views, and his colleagues in Karabash now call him a “traitor” and “scum.” At the same time, the author shares his surreal impressions of this new reality: from awkward selfies with Leonardo DiCaprio before talking with Timothée Chalamet at international film festivals.

The interview provides a deep understanding of how art becomes a tool of resistance and what personal price one must pay for the right to speak the truth.

Reference. Pavel “Pasha” Talankin is an unlikely hero: a beloved Russian elementary school teacher, known as a mentor and a joker who offers his students a safe haven in his classroom. When Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Pasha’s role at school changes dramatically: he finds himself reluctantly drawn into Putin’s propaganda machine. Forced to promote state-sanctioned ideas and horrified by the transformation of his school and community, he struggles with feelings of guilt and powerlessness, which lead him to become an international whistleblower. As the school’s videographer, Pasha documents candid footage of the Putin regime, capturing the rise of militarized youth groups, repressive laws, fervent nationalism, and the recruitment of graduates to fight in the war. Upon learning that his own life may be in danger, Pasha is forced to plan a perilous escape from Russia. This unique co-production, directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pavel Talankin, is both eye-opening and sobering. “Mr. Nobody vs. Putin” features rare footage revealing the profound impact of Putin’s regime on the lives of ordinary Russians, especially children.

Key Topics:

• Secret filming at school: How a film about how teachers and students are forced to support the Special Military Operation was created under the guise of everyday videos.
• Family rift: Why did the protagonist's mother only find out about the film after it was released, and how did propaganda drive a wedge between loved ones?
• Hollywood vs. Reality: What's it like to take a selfie with DiCaprio when people back home promise to "break your knees" as soon as you get back?
• The Price of Freedom: Reflections on “internal emigration,” depression, and the impossibility of planning for the future.
• Behind the Scenes at the Oscars: How small independent companies are trying to compete with the budgets of streaming services.