David Borenstein

Mr. Nobody Against Putin

When propaganda and war hits the classroom

In the copper-scented village of Karabash, Russia, with a population of just 10,000, lives Pasha – an idealistic school event coordinator who’s in charge of “everything fun” at his school. When Russia invades Ukraine in the spring of 2022, schools across the country are turned into recruitment hubs, and a militaristic propaganda machine seeps into classrooms.

Pasha takes a stand. He starts a dangerous undercover operation to expose the state’s ideology and the war’s impact on daily school life. Armed with a video camera, he documents the warlords marching into his classroom, students practicing military drills, and ultimately decides to send the footage to filmmaker David Borenstein. The film went on to win the 2025 World Cinema Documentary award at the Sundance Festival, becoming a modern-day David vs. Goliath story for the soul of Russia.

Mr. Nobody Against Putin is a rare, intimate look at contemporary Russia, where documenting the everyday life of a school becomes an act of resistance. Critical thinkers – those who cannot or will not conform to the state’s mainstream propaganda – are its most dangerous enemies. This is a must-watch for every teacher and every maverick of their own life! 

“Commanders don’t win wars. Teachers win wars.”

Trailer