Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Pasha has lived his entire life in the small industrial town of Karabash, on the eastern edge of the Southern Urals, where he now works as a teacher, video chronicler, and event coordinator at his former school. He enjoys a high level of trust among the students, who view his office as a place for catching one's breath, talking, and carefree gatherings. But following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Pasha's responsibilities begin to change. Now, the children must once again learn about the glorious victories of the Soviet Union, and not only do they have to hold military parades, but paramilitary Wagner mercenaries visit the school and present their weapons. Pasha initially reacts to the compulsory propaganda activities with small subversive acts, but as the war progresses, the situation becomes increasingly oppressive. Not only do almost all children have brothers or fathers at the front, whose lives they fear for, but former students are getting drafted as well. Pasha begins to use his camera to document these developments. His pictures provide haunting inside views of a country in war mode.