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06/06/2025 Documentary 1h 30m
74
User score

The incredible story of an ordinary Russian teacher who exposed Putin's propaganda machine.

Overview

As Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primary schools across Russia’s hinterlands are transformed into recruitment stages for the war. Facing the ethical dilemma of working in a system defined by propaganda and violence, a brave teacher goes undercover to film what’s really happening in his own school.

  1. David Borenstein

    Director, Writer

Top billed cast

  1. Pavel Talankin

    Self

  2. Vladimir Putin

    Self (archive footage)

  3. Roman Abalin

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  4. Lavrentiy Beria

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  5. Viktor Abakumov

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  6. Leon Trotsky

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  7. Dmitry Medvedev

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  8. Vladimir Kara-Murza

    Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

  9. View more

Full Cast & Crew

Reviews

A review by CinemaSerf
Written by CinemaSerf on 2026-01-19
Well I’ve seen plenty of fly on the wall documentaries over the years, but rarely one that’s so fly in the ointment. The ointment in question being Vladimir Putin’s overt manipulation of school children in Russia to make sure the pupils and their teachers all dance to the tune of his “special military operation” in Ukraine. Pavel “Pasha” Talankin is a teacher in a town hitherto known as the most toxic place on the globe - Karabash. Famed for it’s copper industry, this place pollutes like nowhere else, but Pasha has an affinity for his hometown. He was born here, went to school ...read the rest
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Status
Released

Original Language
Danish

Budget
$800,000.00

Revenue
$0.00

Keywords