Mr. Nobody Against Putin

As Russia launches its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primary schools across Russia’s hinterlands are transformed into recruitment sites 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 school.

Pavel ‘Pasha’ (33) is a teacher at a small primary school in a Russian town. In ordinary times, he is a beloved mentor, prankster, and nonconformist, known for hanging up democracy posters and offering a safe haven in his office for students who feel out of place. However, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pasha took on the role of international whistleblower, exposing the devastating effects of Russia’s aggressive militarization within its own schools.

To cope with his guilt and feelings of powerlessness, he records hundreds of hours of footage inside classrooms and on school grounds. What emerges is the story of an institution abruptly transformed: propaganda, repressive new laws, militarized children’s organisations, and the eventual recruitment of graduating students to fight in Ukraine. When Pasha learns his own life may be in danger, he is forced to plan a daring escape from Russia.