Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2025)

[bunniefuu]

P, it's time to talk

about your departure.

Before you cross the border, you must

delete our secure messaging app.

Yeah.

You need to be very careful about how you

take your footage past border control.

Just be calm.

You have a return ticket. They'll think

you are returning in 7 days.

Just believe in yourself.

I think what you've done

is going to make a big impact.

[Sun up high, bright blue sky]

[that was the little boy's picture]

[He drew it on a piece of paper]

[and wrote in the corner]

[may there always be sunshine]

[may there always be a sky]

Hello. This is me.

In this moment I have no idea the amount

of trouble I'm about to cause for myself.

- Good day, students.

- Pasha, this is not the best time.

I am the event coordinator

at Karabash Primary School #1.

First...

I am also the school videographer.

Together with a group of students,

I sh**t all major events in the school.

My place of employment is

the biggest school

in what is a very small town.

The population here is only 10,000.

The town is nestled deep

in the Ural mountain region.

This is Russia's industrial heartland.

Life here revolves around

the copper smelting plant.

In fact, we are

world famous because of this plant.

People come from everywhere

to see the town

that UNESCO once called

the most toxic place on Earth.

The most polluted town in Ural, with

an average life expectancy of 38 years.

It's so like post-apocalyptic here.

There's random stinking gasses.

It's the most depressing place I've

ever been. The air... Oh, man, it stinks.

There's a high rate of mortality

from cancer, lung diseases

and other diseases. Wow.

Welcome to Karabash.

That's the way the world

sees my hometown.

But the reality is

that it's not so bad here.

And as the event coordinator

at the school,

I can make sure the kids always

have something to look forward to.

There is cake for everyone.

What I like about my job is being

able to be there for my students.

Helping them open their minds.

Express themselves.

And just giving them the space

to be kids.

[Even though it's far from great!]

[But I try my best on my guitar...]

Although sometimes I mess everything up.

I hope the kids forgive me

for not bringing an extra battery

for their music video sh**t.

As a graduate of this school myself,

I'm fond of this place.

And I hope the people here

like me too.

- Do you want some cabbage soup?

- No, thanks.

Your cabbage soup is not very good.

The best soup is from

the "Sushi-Pizza" restaurant.

Get out of here!

You and your sushi-pizza.

But I also have my ways

of winning people over.

Good morning.

I would like some flowers.

Hi, Miss Librarian!

A present? I knew it!

I brought you flowers.

Happy birthday, Mom.

This is my mom. I love her

very much but I've never told her.

Let the flowers speak for me.

- You are filming this?

- Yes.

It was in February of 2022

when my job

was to change drastically.

This is the news

on the First Channel.

According to Vladimir Putin, Russia will

conduct a special military operation.

With the consent

of the Russian Federation Council

and in accordance with the ratified

agreement of February 22, 2022

regarding friendship and mutual aid

with Donetsk People's Republic

and Luhansk People's Republic

I decided to conduct

a special military operation.

NEW FEDERAL

PATRIOTIC EDUCATION POLICY

Hello?

Are there special orders? I don't

understand what's happening at all.

We need to get the kids to recite

some patriotic songs and speeches.

You need to film it.

We also need to film the children

reciting poems about our victory.

- Are we completely f*cked up?

- It just came from above.

Damn.

How do we actually do this?

- No idea.

- OK.

f*ck! It hurts!

OK, see you.

f*ck!

Present the flag.

A new patriotic curriculum supporting the

w*r will now be introduced in our school.

Lessons, songs, morning drills...

I was instructed to sh**t

all the events...

Place the flag.

...as proof that the school is

complying with government orders.

During the first days, I darted

from one classroom to the next

recording scripted lesson

after scripted lesson.

The workload was so huge,

I had to ask for assistance in filming.

State policy in Ukraine is decided

by radicals, nationalists, and...

...neo-Nazis. Everything that unites

us have been brought under attack.

In February 2022, he took part in

a special operation for demil...

Demilitarization.

For demilitarization and denazification

of Ukraine as a part of...

- Let's repeat it.

- Do I start from the beginning or?

No, only from these words,

starting from "he took part in"...

In February 2022, he took part in

a special operation for demilitar...

Just say "denazification".

Some were struggling with

the new words of the curriculum.

Others, like Abdulmanov here,

delivered the lessons with

the passion of a true believer.

The next point is the economy.

The economic component

of hybrid warfare.

These are the sanctions

against our country.

You already know

that Europe, not Russia, is suffering

the most from these sanctions now.

Without energy, that is,

without our gas, oil and so on.

In France,

to fill the tank with petrol,

you need more than 150 euros.

So the French will soon

be like musketeers,

riding horses,

and the rest of Europe too.

There are

no local agricultural products

in Europe

or in most other countries.

That is, no wheat, oils,

and so on.

Well, again, in France, OK, they're

used to eating oysters and frogs.

They will last for some time,

but what about the others, like England?

England, you remember,

is a tiny island.

They k*lled their own people

during World w*r II.

In the USA, there are

demonstrations supporting Russia.

As I said, we could destroy Ukraine

in a couple of days.

Thank you.

Few of us were prepared for such

an intervention in our freedom to teach.

The hours when I used

to focus on the kids

are now spent uploading these videos

onto some mysterious government database.

This is my home.

It's a 2-bedroom in the city center.

Here, I have 427 books.

All carefully arranged in color order.

A pet parrot.

A dog named Nebraska.

And lots of memories...

As a young student, I knew I

was different from the other boys

even if I had no idea why.

Maybe this is why

I was always alone.

I was also lonely at home.

When I was 9,

my father drowned in a lake

leaving my mother to raise

me and my siblings on her own.

Here at the school,

I can create my own family.

What I've tried to create

in my office is simple.

Exactly the kind of place that

I wish existed when I was a student.

This office here

is a pillar of democracy

in our entire non-democratic world.

Students can always come in here.

Even if it's closed,

one can unlock it with almost any key.

Go ahead, film the flag.

No, it won't fall out.

What Evgenia Vladimirovna

will tell you, she is forced to say.

Were you forced?

Blink twice if you were forced.

- We need to save Evgenia Vladimirovna.

- Let me just adjust the balance.

All of us together must help

each other and our army

with understanding, support, and mindful

attitude towards everything that happens.

Every day,

there were new mandatory lessons.

It felt like us teachers were

being forced to fight this w*r too.

How many of you already know about

the Crimean spring? Yes, Alexander?

- Crimea joined Russia.

- So, Crimea joined Russia, then?

Crimea left Russia...

Oh, left Ukraine and joined Russia.

How smart you are, you all know.

Why did the Crimean people

want to join Russia?

Because the Ukrainians didn't

give money for infrastructure,

so they decided to join us.

Those who wear the floral crowns,

please wave to the camera.

And a wide smile.

I'm exhausted from

all the extra propaganda work.

Then I see a post from

a Russian web content company.

"Casting call. Has your job been affected

by the special military operation?"

I surprise myself by sending them

an overly long email:

"I'm writing to you because I think I

would be a good candidate for your show."

"I am a teacher forced to do the exact

opposite of what a teacher should do."

"Using my own resources

as school videographer,

I have already been

documenting things here."

"I await your reply."

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday.

The students who pass through

my office become family.

Like this group of graduates

from last year.

But I'm worried for them.

One, two, three.

Karabash!

- I don't have time to study.

- I am in danger of flunking, too.

If you flunk out,

you might end up dead in Ukraine.

They're making my sister

in first grade learn w*r poems.

They make her learn those too.

I asked, "Why are you learning this?"

She says, "I was told to do it

to support the army."

- Not like she knows what w*r is.

- No, they don't need to know what it is.

I got you a McDonald's t-shirt!

Brand merch, my gift to Nikita.

[A slow dance to make you cry]

[Even though they all sound the same]

Mom, do you know

what's happening?

Like, what they have to learn

in the 11th grade?

Heroes of the special military operation!

So what? There are boys at w*r.

Young boys.

It's only natural for boys

to go to w*r!

- I don't like that kind of nature.

- You're different.

Our country wants a lot of things.

There is no need to start a w*r for this.

I understand you perfectly.

One idiot decides to do this,

and the whole world is now afraid.

Idiot.

It would have been better if he just

sat at his desk and did nothing!

I am sorry, but people love w*r.

They want to sh**t each other.

It's always been like that. And our

people were in all the battles. Always.

People love to sh**t each other.

Turn on your brain sometimes.

It's useful.

Take some sweets, son.

Beautiful.

Somewhere along the line,

I get sick of having no one to talk to.

So I start talking to my own camera.

It's a very unpleasant feeling.

It's like you are in a room

and all walls are closing in on you.

The air is running out.

And you are so aware that

you cannot change anything.

That you remain trapped in this system.

I love my job, but I don't want

to be a pawn of the regime.

I'm resigning my position as event

coordinator at Karabash Primary School.

Whatever repercussions come of this,

so be it.

Even a guy like me

should have some principles.

I walk into the administration and

submit the resignation letter.

By June, I am done here.

Sometimes I get asked to

film things outside of school.

And today

I'm filming a pro-w*r rally.

I feel like for now

I must play along.

Come stand with us.

Right here.

WE DON'T ABANDON OUR PEOPLE

I feel like I'm an alien in my own town.

But of course, it's not just here.

Around the country,

the drums of w*r beat wildly.

If we need to turn Kyiv into ruins

and put our flag on top of these ruins

then this must be done.

The rally in Karabash is just part of

a larger national information w*r.

This operation is about revenge.

We strike precisely for revenge.

This is a manifestation

of our hate, a totally holy hate.

We shouldn't k*ll them out of hate.

We must k*ll them out of love,

love for our children.

[Ah, Mother Russia]

[Our nuclear missiles]

[are ready for battle]

[Trust us, grandmother,]

[with the red banner!]

No to the w*r! No to the w*r!

Of course there were the anti-w*r

protestors in some larger cities.

Stop the w*r! No to the w*r!

Media personnel, step aside.

I wish I could be as brave as them.

But I'm not.

And this goes for everyone

in this town.

- Is there anyone against the w*r?

- No, we do not know anyone.

Among our social circle,

there are none of that kind.

They won't even dare to be "against".

After the rally, I see what

the town has done with my footage.

It's a multimedia exhibit

at the town library.

I look into the eyes of the kids

watching my creation.

I am these kids' propagandist.

Luckily I brought my universal remote,

so I could turn off the bullshit.

All of a sudden,

I received the strangest message ever.

The Instagram post

I randomly responded to has paid off.

And now...

"Dear Pasha, I am from Europe

working in documentary films."

"Your contact information was

given to me by a friend in Russia."

"I want to talk about your idea

to film a story about how

the w*r is affecting your school."

When I sent that pitch, I knew no one

in Russia could legally cover this story.

But now a foreigner enters the scene

offering support.

I spend all night

thinking about his offer

to help show my material to the world.

Let's do this.

My job already involves filming

everything around the school.

It's the perfect cover.

Why resign my position when it's

the perfect way to make a film here?

I go to the school administration

and take back my resignation.

Now I'm not only

a school videographer.

Now, I'm a film director.

And I'll use my camera to film

the abyss this school is sinking into.

But where to start?

Attention!

Present the flag.

The new mandatory anthem ceremony

is overseen by Pavel Abdulmanov...

...representative of the ruling party

in our institution.

Now that's interesting.

Why history?

I think that the history of Russia is one

of the most important social sciences.

I agree with the saying

that people

who have forgotten their history

do not have a future.

Which famous historical figure

do you most admire?

I think some of the Soviet officials

from the Soviet era.

Lavrentiy Beria.

Lavrentiy Beria,

leader of Stalin's secret police.

Father of the Gulag system.

He was so enthusiastic about

the beating of political prisoners

that he would often join

in the t*rture himself during his purges.

Maybe Abakumov.

Viktor Abakumov, Stalin's spy hunter.

Famous for k*lling countless enemy spies,

almost none of which were actually spies.

Definitely Pavel Sudoplatov.

Pavel Sudoplatov. Notable for eliminating

Stalin's enemies in creative ways

such as an ice pick

straight through Leon Trotsky's head.

And a b*mb disguised

as a box of chocolates

delivered to a prominent

Ukrainian independence fighter.

- Why are these guys your heroes?

- I think they had interesting jobs.

How will your students remember you?

As a fun person, I hope.

It's so crucial to eliminate

dissenting views

so there is no political split

in our country.

You love your motherland

out of obligation.

Like how you love your mother.

You love her just because

she's your mother.

You love your motherland just

because it is your motherland.

If you were born in this country and

don't believe we're doing the right thing

then leave. Go to the country

that you think is better.

If you live in our country and don't

love it, then you're a parasite. Leave.

I can understand Abdulmanov

from one side...

...because he is brainwashed.

He is so certain that he is correct.

But I worry about...

...the kids sitting in front of him.

They haven't yet learned

how they should live their lives.

They can't make these decisions yet.

I might love Russia much more

than the regime supporters do.

I love when you can open

your balcony door wide open

to get all the fresh air in.

I love when it gets so cold,

it's almost -45 degrees,

and you can only run

from one place to another

with a completely red face

and a white ice moustache.

I love autumn.

I love everything.

I love the people.

Love for your country

is not about putting up a flag.

It is not about singing

the anthem either.

It's not about exploitation

and propaganda.

Love for your country means saying,

"We have a problem."

What are you filming?

- A film.

- For what?

BBC.

Ah, well film then.

It's not just my current students

who face new challenges.

Many of my former students

are at the age for military service.

This is a long-standing tradition

but now it has

much darker implications.

This is Vanya. Even after his graduation,

he still often comes to my office.

I just came in and these little guys

who used to run and trip

over my knees

now they are taller than me, in their

graduation costumes. I am in shock.

Why does time fly so fast?

Vanya now works at the liquor store

as he figures out his next step.

Maybe I'll move to Chelyabinsk. I am

not sure what to do with my life yet.

- Do you have connections there?

- No, who the f*ck needs me?

You'd better not join the army

out of desperation.

- I wanted to.

- Did you? Still or not anymore?

I wanted to sign a contract.

It is necessary to support

the proposal of the Ministry of Defense

and the General Staff to hold a partial

military mobilization in Russia.

The decree on partial mobilization

has been signed.

Just like that,

everything was about to change again.

Keep it even in the back.

Across the country,

regular men were called up for duty.

Now almost all men will live under

the constant threat of being sent to w*r.

Perhaps it was inevitable

that the realities of w*r would find

their way into my little office.

I had the same attitude

as my mother in the beginning.

I could care less about the w*r, as

long as it doesn't bother me personally.

This is Masha. A constant presence

in my office over the past years.

- I want to go to medical school.

- You still need to get in.

- What if you don't get in?

- Well, damn then.

Masha! When did you stop believing

in Santa Claus?

- I still believe in Santa Claus.

- What did you ask him for?

Happiness.

My brother is chilling in a base

in some city in Russia

waiting to be sent back to Ukraine.

He went to Ukraine for 10 days

and was sent back to the base.

Some men stay there

for 2-3 weeks.

- He was drafted?

- Yes.

- He has a duty.

- What is his salary?

He just got

about 1200 euro for a month.

They have really scary g*ns.

- Are they broken?

- No, his are all good.

He carries four grenades

on one side.

And four grenades on the other.

As rough as it was to see

Masha's brother go off to w*r

it wasn't any easier to see

my own students get drafted.

What was your first thought when

you were drafted into the army?

That this farewell party

would be expensive for me.

- Do you really want to join the army?

- I was conscripted. They sent for me.

Which troops

would you most like to join?

Putin's.

I'd like to serve in the Kremlin.

- Should you shave?

- Are you going to shave me?

I think Vanya needs a shave.

Let's shave little Vanya.

- Leave enough room for everyone.

- Yes, he has a lot of hair.

- Yes, he still has it.

- On the second round.

Do you know what this hairstyle

is called? Landing strip. For pilots.

It's run out of power.

Put it on the charger.

- Say "Ivan". One, two, three.

- Ivan!

- Say "army". One, two, three.

- Army!

- Pasha, put down the camera and come.

- Let me do a little too.

You decided to sign up on your own?

- They sent for me.

- Why didn't you call me?

It happened so fast, I didn't

understand what was going on.

Ah, we need to charge it more.

OK, so let it charge.

In my office

I've witnessed these friendships bloom.

But it's all so fragile.

- What a son you have raised.

- Dammit, I'm crying.

Vanya!

f*ck, I'm crying.

Goddammit, Vanya.

I know, Vanya, you are my friend,

you are my friend, you are my brother.

You understand? Not by blood,

but by soul. Understand?

If you were a stupid, bad guy, I would

have cut you off. I love you for real.

I see the real you.

For real.

You're leaving for a year...

It's f*cked up.

I haven't slept since

Vanya's going away party.

Maybe I'm too anxious

to ever sleep again.

To see my students

so directly get drawn into this w*r

gave me an uncontrollable urge

to lash out.

And so, when setting up the sound system

for the daily anthem ceremony, I acted.

The US national anthem

as performed by Lady Gaga.

What could be more treasonous?

Pasha, stop it immediately.

- Why?

- Do you want to go to prison?

- You have lots of enemies at the school.

- So what?

President Vladimir Putin

signed a law

on life imprisonment

for government treason.

We must suppress activities of

foreign secret services and identify

traitors, spies and saboteurs.

In April 2023, the state released

updated laws concerning "treason".

25 years in prison.

That's the verdict for journalist

and activist Vladimir Kara-Murza.

He was found guilty of treason,

discrediting the army, and

leading an "undesirable organization."

There is something called

"traitor of the motherland".

Just imagine this.

You are a citizen of your country

and then there is a person

who betrays your country.

He is just a scumbag.

Obviously, I am constantly walking

around the town with the camera.

At first it felt safe

and even interesting.

It was like a game.

But then...

It became harder as the political

atmosphere was heating up.

People start taking notice

if the camera is present.

They get pretty worried.

Start whispering.

It seems like...

...in a second, trust was lost.

Please be seated.

True or false: an effective way

of fighting modern warfare

is to use foreign agents.

True.

The enemy is trying to recruit people

from local communities

to spread propaganda

and confusion.

That's the truth.

We must support each other.

They will attempt to defeat us

from the inside

by dividing us.

So it's important that

we unite and support each other.

These kind of lessons would be

unimaginable when I was a student here.

In those days an open environment

made it possible for someone

like me to be free in this school.

But since last year, there is

no more freedom to be found here.

And starting from today,

it's official.

Dear teachers, students,

and visitors!

We're here to witness an event

of historical magnitude.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

has supported the idea

of the creation of an

all-Russian movement for children.

For the first time in Russian history,

a president will personally chair

the board of the children's movement.

I greet all the participants of the first

meeting of the children's movement.

Here in Moscow, we meet bright and

creative kids from all over the country.

This includes kids

from our new regions.

Putin announced

this new organization

on the 100-year anniversary

of the Soviet Pioneers.

In the high Soviet era,

the pioneers prepared youth to fight

the future battles of communism.

Putin is bringing back this

all-encompassing propaganda organization.

But not for communism.

No, this movement is loyal

only to him and his aims.

- Patriot!

- Our motto!

We only move forward,

since we're the Patriot team!

We're brave and agile,

and ready to do anything to win.

Go sit down over there. Move

the chairs there, and sit down in pairs.

- Did I put my hat on the right way?

- Yes.

Putin's new youth movement mandates

new types of propaganda lessons.

Now, there are not just prepared lines

for the teachers.

Now, even the students are reading

from scripts.

Kids, please hide

your scripts under the tables.

Tell me another of

the most heroic Soviet cities.

- Kyiv!

- Which one?

- Kyiv.

- It's correct.

Someone wants to tell me

a little bit about it? Yura, please.

Kyiv is one of our first cities fighting

the enemy during the Great Patriotic w*r.

On June 6, 1941,

facing perilous attack

from German fascist troops

our military headquarters

was established in Kyiv.

The 72-day defense of

the Ukrainian capital thus began

lasting until September 19, 1941.

- This city received its first award...

- Look at the teacher, not me.

This city received its first award...

What do Putin's lessons

seek to teach us?

It's obvious on Victory Day, the holiest

day of the year for the Russian state.

Marching together, we hold pictures of

relatives who perished in World w*r II.

We begin the ceremony

of laying a garland

in recognition of the heroism

of Soviet soldiers.

A wreath is placed on behalf of the

copper mining conglomerate Karabash-med.

The message to the kids isn't subtle.

"Maybe one day

you can be a dead soldier too."

Our people, just like in the years of

the Great Patriotic w*r, must unite

in order to defeat the enemy.

I'm very happy to see so many children

and young people here at the parade.

I encourage you, patriots.

You, young people, will have to carry

the banner of absolute victory over evil.

[Come on, let's live,]

[let's live]

[Sharing the minutes]

[of joy and happiness together]

[And valuing every hour,]

[every moment that we have]

[Oh, our life, oh, our life]

[is like a song]

Ah, I get it now.

Hi, Masha.

How have you been?

Are you OK?

Wait, I am filming you

taking the picture.

Your brother.

- Are you going to show it to your mom?

- Yes, they put it in the classroom.

Do you feel happy that the teachers put

the photo of your brother on the wall?

- Well, I am not happy he is at w*r.

- Understandable.

As part of the

state-mandated propaganda

students here are often given graded

assignments to write letters to soldiers.

But sometimes these tasks can be

redirected towards our own ends.

They can be a good way

to vent suppressed feelings.

Masha, did you show your mother

the letter you wrote to a soldier?

- She said it was a sad letter.

- What letter is this?

To a soldier.

She said

I was good at describing things.

Did you write to a random soldier

or to your brother?

I wrote to a soldier about my brother.

"Dear soldier, I hope you are well,

dressed, healthy and full."

"I understand this is not easy neither

for you nor for your family and friends."

"But just do anything to come back home.

It's not easy for me either, honestly."

"My brother is on the b*ttlefield now,

and we're all very worried for him."

"On February 3, 2023,

he told us he was OK."

"He said he was not hungry

nor was he missing us."

That he was missing us, I mean.

"I am writing this to tell you

please do not forget to call people

who are worried about you."

Forward march, go!

When did we start marching

in the hallways?

Is Severus Snape

our new headmaster?

[White snow, gray ice!]

[On the cracked earth!]

[Covered by a patchwork quilt!]

[There is a city in the bend of the road!]

[And clouds are floating above the sky!]

[Quenching the heavenly light!]

Proceed to the next step.

Yes, sir.

Don't turn with your shoulder.

- You are walking too fast.

- At ease.

Marching steps. And march.

14 students from 6th grade

are receiving failing grades.

And 34 students from 7th grade.

133 grades are missing.

I think the teachers

are inflating the grades.

Pavel Abdulmanov, academic performance

in your class has dropped 7%.

Back to the problem of kids failing.

This is a very serious issue.

This is not only happening in our school.

There are a lot of questions.

We need to find out why this is happening

and what can be done about it.

Maybe the reason

they are failing is all the bullshit.

You have to prepare all the patriotic

lessons, all the special courses.

The new youth organizations that

they shove down your throat.

It's true. How are we supposed

to do this all at once?

"Go Russia, hurray for nuclear weapons,"

that's all we have here now.

What if we could just take out

all the extra activities

and just focus on educating kids.

Why can't we just try it?

- How in the world can we do that?

- I would get fired!

- I'd also get fired as principal.

- It has to come from above.

It's like walking a tight rope.

When you feel like you are nothing

but a propagandist

and you feel like

it's going to consume all of you

you need to even it out

and act out.

My stomach is aching.

I might be a self-destructive person.

But I can't look at one more pro-w*r

Z symbol on these windows.

So I take them down

and put up X's instead.

A symbol online in support

of Ukrainian refugees.

No, Pasha, don't do this.

We are all adults here, after all.

Everyone is having a hard time.

That's correct,

everyone is having a hard time.

Pasha, you have to listen

to other people too.

That's it, thank you,

it's great that we heard each other out.

Karabash is a small city,

where everybody knows each other.

Word starts spreading about

my open opposition to the regime

and in Russia, you never know

what kind of danger you might face.

I go to the town award ceremony

feeling anxious but also a bit hopeful.

Here, an award is given to the local

teacher who is most loved by students.

The prize is a new deluxe apartment,

right here in Karabash.

Good afternoon.

Hello, dear guests.

The award is for someone kind,

someone understanding.

Someone who creates a space for students

where they feel comfortable.

We are starting the ceremony for

"favorite teacher" award.

The winner is

Pavel Shaihovich Abdulmanov!

The history and social science teacher

from Karabash Primary School.

Students and parents value him for his

kindness, his way of explaining things,

his creative approach to teaching,

and for his understanding of students.

"Abdulmanov teaches us

how to be smart."

I'm overwhelmed with emotions,

even if you don't see it on my face.

Sometimes I feel like I'm the guy

everyone wants to tear apart.

But it turns out

they really love me.

As a teacher

I feel more and more useless.

It's now time for

the mercenaries to teach.

Don't film too much here.

Wagner mercenaries, to be precise.

Wagner.

This mine is called a petal.

It's being thrown out from airplanes.

If it's a field or open space,

you would never see it.

It's very hard to see it in bushes

or anywhere else.

If you see this mine,

walk around it.

If you ever see it anywhere,

never come close to it or touch it.

There is liquid inside

that blows up instantly.

It will take your whole leg off

in a second.

The most important thing,

if you end up in a crossfire is

never clasp your helmet!

It will break your neck

if you get shot in the head.

Move a little bit closer together.

OK, thank you.

Our schedules are packed

with military related events.

Marching practice, sh**ting drills,

grenade throwing competitions.

The 2nd place for "Grenade Throwing,

Age Category 15-16 Years"

is awarded to Bidal Gabitov.

The 1st place award

goes to Seymon Chuykin.

We've never had a demand

for teachers as we do now.

Teachers play pivotal roles when

countries are at turning points.

Commanders don't win wars.

Teachers win wars.

You can see these models of small arms

used during the Great Patriotic w*r.

And here's our last exhibit,

the Degtyaryov machine g*n.

It has the same cartridge as the Mosin

and the SVT. It holds 75 b*ll*ts.

- Is everything good in school?

- No, there's nothing good there.

Good day!

Happy birthday!

Help me with the flowers.

And a present for you as well.

Good.

Maybe I will stop by

your place tonight.

Forget it.

Today's training

will help students develop

the morale required for military service.

Pasha, my brother Kostya called crying

yesterday about huge losses over there.

Actually crying?

He recorded a voice message

on WhatsApp.

He told the whole family

that he is alive and OK.

But also he talked about huge losses and

his voice started trembling by the end...

- Can't he leave?

- He wants to really bad.

Is there any way

he can officially leave this w*r?

I don't think so,

it's not like they give vacation time.

- Is he on contract or mobilized?

- Mobilized.

He can't say "demobilize" me?

It doesn't work that way,

no one is going to let him go.

It's horrifying,

I am scared.

The w*r has become

Europe's bloodiest since WW2.

By the summer of 2024,

Putin's strategy was to throw soldiers

at the Ukrainian frontlines.

Russia slowly made territorial gains,

a few square kilometers here and there,

costing 1000 soldiers' lives every day.

Yet there is no shortage

of conscripts from Karabash.

The kids have been taught well

by their teachers.

It feels like yesterday

I filmed Nikita getting

a McDonald's shirt for his birthday.

Nikita! What can I say, you're starting

a new chapter in your life.

You are becoming more manly.

I am wishing you endurance, happiness

and health, that's the most important.

If you ever have any problems,

your friends will always have your back.

Pull the trigger, take position,

the correct one, then sh**t 4 times.

"I will see you when you get back."

"See you in a year."

But some guys will never come home.

Artyom was my friend

from my own graduation class.

He's one of many who lost their lives,

and whose deaths were

covered up by the state.

The death numbers of this w*r are highly

sensitive information for the regime.

Filming Russian soldiers' funerals

is too risky.

But I think it's important

so I recorded the sound.

Attention please.

On the 30th of April, Russian Citizen

Artyom Volkov died.

During the liberation of Artyomovsk

of the Donetsk People's Republic.

Artyom!

Artyom!

My sweet boy!

No, no, no.

Zhenya, hold mom.

Why didn't you let me

come close to him?

My little Artyom!

I know the situation here is incomparable

to what's happening in Ukraine.

But there are more and more people

suffering here because of the w*r.

And there is nowhere in school

where the trauma doesn't reach.

The kindest boy, Igor,

who lost his father.

Kristina from school security

who lost her boyfriend.

And so many brothers in harm's way.

Masha's brother Kostya was deployed

to Ukraine during the mobilization.

He recently defected from the army

only to be captured and brought back

to Ukraine.

A few weeks later,

his family got a call that he was dead.

- Do you miss him?

- Of course, everybody does.

We never ended up having

a good talk about her brother.

In some ways

that's what hurt me the most.

Masha was always seeking

a place to be free.

To unload her feelings

without fear or prejudice.

But I have to admit

it feels like something has changed.

More and more, students

have started to fear my classroom.

They don't wish to be seen with

the guy who hangs the democracy flags.

And so they don't come.

But perhaps

the students are smart to avoid me.

One day a police car

appears outside my window.

In a small town like Karabash,

this is suspicious.

I hide my hard drives and passwords

in case something happens.

Here... is where they're hidden.

I want people in Russia

and my hometown

to see the material

I recorded.

For all that was said and done

in this film,

surely I will get beaten or put in jail.

If we were a free country

with the freedom to say

what needs to be said...

...I wouldn't need to leave Russia.

It's...

This departure...

It's...

It's...

- How is your brother Vanya doing?

- He is OK.

- Does he call you? Is he still there?

- Yes. He has become a captain.

- Oh, a captain!

- Yes.

I go to the library

for a sort of farewell.

Let me film you repairing the books.

They're all torn.

Tell me what you're doing.

Affixing the cover.

Who in the world knows

that you fix these books?

Do you tell the kids about it?

I'm bringing a plant...

...to your house.

If it dies, OK.

But if it lives I'll be really happy.

- OK?

- OK.

- What do you think?

- What can I think?

I think she senses

that I am leaving

but not that it will be forever.

It's impossible to say the words

to someone you love so much.

I love...

...almost everything about this place.

I love the gray soviet buildings.

I love the maze of pipes coming

from the copper plant.

Pipes, pipes, pipes...

I love the stains on

the sides of the buildings.

I love thunder and storms.

P, it's time to talk

about your departure.

Before you cross the border, you

must delete our secure messaging app.

Be careful about how you take your

footage past border control. Just be calm.

You have a return ticket. They'll think

you are returning in 7 days.

I think what you've done

is going to make a big impact.

One last task before I leave.

This year

for our graduation ceremony,

a young tree is to be dug up

and planted at school.

A symbol of new beginnings.

Today, I am the event coordinator

at Karabash Primary School

and it's my responsibility to organize

the graduation ceremony.

The diplomas were printed.

The speeches were written.

I did these tasks

to the best of my abilities.

Make your destiny with your own hands.

Go against the wind. Don't stand still.

There is no simple way.

Dear friends!

Dear graduates,

parents,

and teachers!

In a very short while

your children, your students,

your brothers and sisters,

your closest people,

your family

will hear their school bell

for the last time.

And this will signify the beginning

of real adult life for them.

I'd like to take this opportunity,

my dear friends,

to say how great it is to be able

to actually call you my dear friends.

Wherever your life takes you,

I wish you

solid ground

under your feet.

Yes, there'll be turns.

Yes, there'll be ups and downs.

Yes, there'll be crossroads and turning

points, you'll have to choose.

Sometimes to do the right thing...

And sometimes

to express your love,

you must sacrifice everything.

But I know that your choice

will come from your heart.

I love you very much.

Thank you so much

for working with me

throughout these years.

I love you very much.

The time for the last bell has come.

We were all united by a deep recognition

of what we were leaving behind.

And utter blindness towards

what the next steps actually mean.

It can't be here,

why am I even searching?

Thank you for giving us

your warmth and support.

You supported us during the

hard times and were always here for us.

This is my passport.

Holy sh*t!

We all held each other once more,

dancing in the most toxic town on earth.

And you could almost smell

the clean Ural mountain air

through the poisonous fumes.