Educational Media Reviews Online

In 2000, Russia transitioned leadership from Boris Yeltsin's "Bright, rich, civilized future" to his endorsed successor, Vladimir Putin. This bold film features raw footage taken by Vitaly Mansky throughout the Putin's campaign.

Mansky does not simply provide a glimpse behind the curtain of embryonic stage of Putin's politicking, but tears down the curtain on the rule of the most controversial figures in global politics. The wisdom of hindsight, the audience is given chilling foreshadowing by quasi-candid Putin's comments, actions, and even his glances. Similarly, there are plenty of troubling and prophetic moments, when constituents, labor leaders, acquaintances, and Boris Yeltsin himself make some piercing comments that the passage of time has proven correct. Putin is seen not as a cult of personality, but a clever maneuverer, particularly when he publicized a failed assassination attempt on Chechen rebels. At times, the audience needs to do some mental gymnastics, grasping and discerning what Putin has staged, and what is open and honest.

This work is nothing short of heroic. Mansky took great risks in shooting, assembling and distributing this untainted footage. One continually gets eerie feelings through the film, based on the ominous and unsettling reality of Putin's declarations, the fates of his supporters turned opponents, and initial obfuscated policies. Despite the grand service that this courageous work provides, it could have benefitted from some edits. Although the film has the constant feel of the omnipresent camera, there was no need to include the prolonged intrusion on a young naked girl in a bathtub. Although Mansky offers some timely narration and exposition throughout, audiences will need to have a good understanding of Russian history in order to process the film. Nevertheless, Mansky's work stands as a distinctive achievement, and essential viewing for Russian historians.

Awards:
Best Documentary Grand Prize, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2018 Karlovy

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