The documentary film "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," by Pavel Talankin and David Borenstein, which openly depicted military propaganda in a Russian school, won an Oscar for Best Documentary by the American Film Academy. The 98th ceremony was held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
Borenstein called the film a visual documentation of how a country can be lost. He emphasized that the footage shows that the stability of the state can be extinguished through countless small partnership actions. However, even "no one" can be stronger than expected, and not as weak as intended.
Standing on stage, Talankin called on all the spectators to "stop all wars." According to him, for four years they have been looking at the sky and expressing the most important wishes. But in some countries, we are witnessing bombs and drones falling instead of stars. He wants to demand peace and security for future generations.
The main materials in the film are video recordings from schools in the city of Karabash, Chelyabinsk region, since February 2022. Talankin, as a teacher-organizer, filmed various formation events, competitions, and open lessons, leaving Russia in the summer of 2024 and editing it in collaboration with American director Borenstein.
The film premiered on January 25, 2025, at the Sundance Independent Film Festival in the USA and won a special jury award. It was also recognized as the "Best Documentary Film" at the 79th BAFTA ceremony in London on February 22.
In an interview with DW, Talankin described his experience of school pedagogy and the school environment under the influence of war, and also analyzed the Ministry of Education's guidelines and the changes in rhetoric and environment in schools over four years.
The film was recognized not only as a historical document, but also as a creative work that emphasizes the importance of ending all wars and maintaining peace for different countries.
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