Watching Mr. Nobody Against Putin felt personal to me. I was born in Russia, and after the war started, our school introduced one-hour classes before the regular school day every Monday and Thursday where we were supposed to talk about “our country”, international relationships, and achievements of Russia. I didn’t go because it didn’t feel real, it felt like information teachers were trying to put into students’ heads without letting us form our own opinions. The film showed something I had already experienced and something that is still happening today.
I thought the film was powerful and important. It isn’t preachy or boring , it actually made me feel uncomfortable at times, but in a good way. The quiet approach made the message hit harder. I especially liked how the film shows that courage doesn’t always look loud or dramatic, sometimes it’s just pressing “record” when everyone else stays quiet.
“Mr. Nobody Against Putin”, the new Oscar-winning documentary, tells the story of one ordinary primary school teacher in the small Russian mining town of Karabash. The film follows Pavel “Pasha” Talankin as he secretly records how Putin’s war turned his classroom into a propaganda machine. Directed by David Borenstein and Talankin himself, the film shows Karabash right after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
What begins as normal school days gradually changes into mandatory military lessons, patriotic songs, and pressure on teachers to push the government’s message. Talankin risked his job and his safety to record everything with a hidden camera, which makes the film feel even more intense.
The documentary explores three major ideas. First, it shows how propaganda starts at a young age, with little kids singing songs about the “special military operation.” Second, it reveals the hard choices teachers face: stay silent and keep your job, or speak up and lose everything. Third, it highlights the power of courage. Talankin is not a hero , he is simply a teacher who decided that one camera could tell the truth.
What makes this documentary stand out is how it’s filmed. Talankin used a hidden camera while working as the school’s videographer, and it shows. The footage feels real and personal, like you’re right there in the classroom with him.
Even though it’s a documentary, the people in it stay with you. Talankin doesn’t feel like a “main character,” just a normal teacher who cares about his students. Seeing him joke with kids and then quietly push back against what’s happening makes everything feel more real. But the saddest part is watching the children, they’re just repeating things they’ve been told, without really knowing what it means.
The film also brought back a lot of frustration from my own experience. Every Monday we had to lift up the Russian flag with all the students standing around it while they played the national anthem. The school hallways were covered with posters of Putin and patriotic slogans everywhere you looked. I felt disappointed about everything that was happening in the country, and I didn’t understand why my friends were starting to accept it and see it as normal. That was the hardest part, not just what was happening, but how quickly it became normal.
I’m not the only one who feels this way. A sophomore student from Russia, Almina Dordzhi-Goriaeva, shared her personal experience with Russian surveillance.
“Teachers even force students to download ‘local’ apps, but they cover it up as ‘communication.’ The most common one is the Russian messenger ‘Max,’ where the government has full access to your messages, social media and documents,” she says.
As a student now in San Jose, California, I have the freedom to learn different perspectives, debate ideas with friends, and read news from many sources. Seeing how propaganda can slowly enter everyday life makes me more grateful for the education system here. Propaganda isn’t only a “far away” problem, it can happen anywhere if people stay silent.
In 2026, while the war in Ukraine continues, Mr. Nobody Against Putin reminds us that the fight isn’t only on the battlefield — it’s also happening inside schools. The documentary just won an Oscar, but its real power is making people ask: “What would I do if my own classroom changed like this?”
Mr. Nobody Against Putin is not just a movie about Russia — it’s a story about bravery in the smallest places. One teacher, one camera, and the truth. After watching it, I feel inspired. This film proves that even when the system feels too big, one voice can still matter.
