Teacher in Karabash Documents Russia's Pro‑War Classroom Curriculum

A primary schoolteacher in Karabash, Russia, Pavel Talankin, filmed the government’s efforts to teach students pro‑war messages; that footage is central to the documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin. Talankin, who worked as the school videographer and event coordinator, is shown as a congenial mentor known for providing a progressive space for students.

The film says that after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine the government required teachers to use a pro‑war curriculum and to log lesson footage to prove compliance. In the documentary Talankin says, “Love for your country is not about putting up a flag. It’s about having the courage to say, ‘We have a problem.’” At first Talankin made quiet acts of protest, such as playing Lady Gaga’s rendition of “The Star‑Spangled Banner” over loudspeakers instead of the Russian national anthem.

He later resolved to use his recordings as material for a clandestine documentary and connected with David Borenstein, an American filmmaker in Denmark, who helped make the film. The review describes Mr. Nobody Against Putin as an effective look at one man’s resistance but says the film’s attempts to heighten danger and drama are less persuasive than the raw classroom footage it presents, including a scene in which young students are coached to march down a hallway as if preparing for battle.

Key Topics

Culture, Pavel Talankin, Mr Nobody Film, David Borenstein, Karabash, Russian Curriculum