‘Mr. Nobody’ turns the camera on the death of truth
The Oscar-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” is everything a documentary should be: timely, informative, entertaining and most of all relatable. Oh, yeah, and fronted by a hugely likeable narrator guiding us through the ins and outs of a complicated subject you didn’t think you cared about. Pavel “Pasha” Talankin fits that description to a T. He’s the titular Mr. Nobody, a sort of Slavic Michael Moore, if you will, who aggressively addresses Vladimir Putin’s political malfeasance with a heavy dose of humor.
Talankin wasn’t always this way, at least not until Feb. 24, 2022, the day the Russian army invaded Ukraine. Before that, Talankin was a genial, bespectacled, rolly-polly mensch who took pride in serving as the events coordinator and resident videographer at Karabash Primary School at the foot of the Ural Mountains.
Up until now, the only notable thing about the tiny city of Karabash was its distinction as “The Most Toxic Place on Earth,” a moniker bestowed years ago by UNESCO. And with good reason, for the majority of the city’s 10,000 residents (average life expectancy, 38) either worked in or around the infamous copper smelting plant that belches out poisonous fumes 24/7. One rueful tourist described Karabash as “The most depressing place I’ve ever been.” And the smelliest!
But for Talankin and his widowed mother, the Putin-friendly school librarian, it is home, brimming with friends aplenty. Or, it was until Putin got it in his evil head that he needed to host a Soviet reunion by rounding up the old kids on the bloc, one by one, beginning with Ukraine. Billed as “a special military operation of friendship and mutual aid,” Putin promised it was a mission that would take just a day or two to accomplish. Sound familiar? But Putin, like Trump, didn’t expect the “enemy” to fight back, killing an estimated 1,000 Russian soldiers per day at certain points.
If it wasn’t infuriating enough watching his friends and neighbors being marched off to almost certain death, Talankin drew his line in the sand the moment Putin started militarizing the nation’s schools, including Karabash Primary. Teachers were ordered to recite scripted propaganda whenever not putting the kids through goose-stepping drills and grenade-throwing competitions. Particularly galling for Talankin was that he was expected to film it all and upload his footage daily to “some mysterious government database” as proof the school was complying with Putin’s orders.
That’s when Talankin surreptitiously connected with his film’s co-director, David Borenstein. The plan was for Talankin to smuggle copies of those very same recordings out of the country and have Borenstein assemble them into a film exposing how students – and their teachers – are susceptible to indoctrination sold under the guise of patriotism. And what you witness is shocking, as what begins as the seemingly harmless singing of nationalistic songs soon evolves into visits from the notorious Wagner mercenaries, offering the kids pep talks about the “glory” of war while also reminding them of the dangers of landmines and how best to prepare for being shot in the head.
It’s scary, creepy stuff, and your heart breaks for these impressionable kids who’ve been taught to believe what they are told. But you fret even more over how many of these same mind-control tactics are being inflicted upon us by the current regime in Washington. That, more than anything, renders “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” must-see viewing. But it reveals so much more, as it explores elements of unity and friendship, life and death, and above all, the effective use of irony to derive humor.
Yes, you shed a tear or two, but you also laugh uproariously, even during moments when you probably shouldn’t. No greater example of this is the recurring appearances by the film’s de facto villain, “history” teacher Pavel Abdulmanov, a molder of minds whose “heroes” are Stalin’s most murderous cronies: Viktor Abakumov, Pavel Sudoplatov and Lavrentiy Beria, the bloodthirsty “father of the gulag system.” “They had interesting jobs,” Abdulmanov confesses.
What’s even more unsettling is that he subscribes to Putin’s bullshit, hook, line, and sinker. And so do his students, because, as they point out in voting him teacher of the year, they dig his “honesty.” And how does he want to be remembered? “As a fun person, I hope.” Oh, yeah, a barrel of laughs, this guy.
Well, he is funny, unintentionally. But we’re not laughing with him, we’re laughing at him and his cockamamie belief that “it’s crucial to eliminate people” with dissenting views toward the state. “You love your Motherland out of obligation, like you love your mother,” he preaches. “If you don’t like it, leave.” Which is what Talankin reluctantly does with those damning tapes in hand.
What you appreciate most about the finished film is the dozens of poignant moments when humanity bursts to the fore, such as Talankin’s abiding love for his mom, his adorable mutt named Nebraska, and his extensive book collection, all color-coordinated. And like a lot of heroes, he didn’t set out to become one. In his mind, he was just doing his duty. He saw a wrong and sought to correct it.
The jury is still out on whether his movie exacerbates Putin’s downfall, but at least Talankin can take pride in trying, often at great risk to his well-being. Even before fleeing the town and the nation he loves, Talankin’s subversive actions led the cops to stake out his apartment, which is to be expected when you dare replace the troops-supporting “Z’s” in the school’s windows with derogatory “X’s.” It’s not just proof that the nerdy Talankin has balls, it’s the culmination of seeing too many acquaintances return home in boxes and then watching Putin attempt to hide the truth behind easily provable lies.
It’s time, as he says, to throw open the windows and let the fresh breezes from the Urals clear away the toxic air. A more apt metaphor, I cannot think of. And it’s the same with “Mr. Nobody,” an exemplary documentary that nobly seeks to eradicate the malodorous rot that is Vladimir Putin.
Movie review
Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Rated: Not rated
Directors: David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin
Runtime: 90 minutes
Where: In theaters March 20 (limited)
Grade: A
