The Oscar-nominated documentary, "Mr Nobody Against Putin", has garnered international acclaim, including a Bafta best documentary win, yet its existence is studiously ignored by Russian state media and government officials. Despite official silence, pupils at Karabash School No 1, the setting for the film, have sourced and viewed bootlegged copies in private, on their phones or laptops. The film's inclusion at the Oscars is hoped by co-director Pavel Talankin to raise awareness among more Russians.

Pavel Talankin, a school teacher and the hero of the documentary, spent two-and-a-half years documenting a new government-mandated, patriotic education program. This program, designed to mold primary schoolchildren into Putin enthusiasts and supporters of the war against Ukraine, reveals Russia's potent propaganda machine in action. Talankin, whose official role was to coordinate and film school events, secretly sent footage out of the country to US director David Borenstein, risking his own safety.

The documentary captures the chilling progression of this indoctrination. Initially, children appear bored and confused by the new classes. Before the war, they sang cheerful choruses like "May there always be sunshine." However, a few months later, they are shown grappling with government scripts about the Russian army's goals in Ukraine, stumbling over unfamiliar terms like "denazification" and "demilitarisation." Soon, the school corridors echo with children marching soberly, and classes include visits from Wagner paramilitary representatives teaching how to identify and step around mines, alongside grenade-throwing competitions replacing regular sports.

Talankin, speaking after the Bafta win, emphasized the effectiveness of this propaganda, stating, "The state spends a lot of money on it; they wouldn’t bother if it didn’t work." The cumulative effect of these classes, introduced in thousands of primary schools across Russia, is significant. "Putin’s government is doing everything it can to create a generation loyal to his politics. The film highlights not just what is happening now, but how when these children emerge from education, in 10 or 15 years’ time, a new generation of pro-Putin loyalists will have been created," he explained.

The extensive focus on patriotic education has had a negative impact on the children's normal schooling. An emergency staff meeting at Karabash School revealed a sharp drop in grades, prompting some teachers to question if the new patriotism classes were to blame. The head teacher, however, wearily admitted she would be sacked if she stopped teaching the mandated material. Talankin considers this scene, impossible to film with a camera inside Russian schools, to be the film's most important.

Despite official efforts to suppress the film, many in Karabash, a small industrial town in the Urals, managed to see it. Pirated copies circulated like samizdat volumes, leading to mixed reactions among parents, some expressing gratitude, others issuing threats. When local officials became aware of the film's widespread viewing, FSB state intelligence agency officers were dispatched to the school. They instructed the leadership to deny Talankin's existence, the film's existence, and to make no comment on it.

Talankin's involvement with the documentary has forced him to flee Russia, leaving his family behind, to avoid arrest for dissent. Updated, repressive anti-treason laws introduced during filming meant he faced life imprisonment if his project was uncovered. After the 2024 school graduation ceremony, he packed a suitcase with all his recordings, told his mother (the school librarian), friends, and colleagues he was going on holiday to Turkey, and left the country, hoping his bags wouldn't be searched. He has since secured political asylum in Europe, believing his personal sacrifice was worth it: "It’s better to talk about problems than be silent about them."

In his Bafta acceptance speech, David Borenstein lauded Talankin's extreme bravery. "He is not Mr Nobody. He wanted to show how quickly totalitarianism can take over a school, a workplace, a government. And how our complicity becomes fuel in that fire," Borenstein stated. He highlighted Talankin's unwavering commitment to filming even when faced with police surveillance and the threat of imprisonment, emphasizing, "No matter who we are, there is always power in our actions. Courage is found in unlikely places. We need more Mr Nobodies." The documentary "Mr Nobody Against Putin" is available on BBC iPlayer (Storyville, BBCFour).