Mr. Nobody Against Putin

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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On 24 February 2022, Russian President Putin ordered a special military operation to “demilitarize and denazify” Ukraine. Shortly after, Putin invades the independent country, a sovereign nation. His animosity towards Ukraine goes back several years with the possibility of future Ukrainian NATO membership being a thorn in Putin’s side.

In “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” by David Borenstein (“Dream Empire”), young teacher Pavel Talankin documents the transformation of his school from a somewhat progressive education center to a military recruitment hub. 

The quizzical Pavel with large round glasses and an open face is well loved by his students.

In February 2022 at Pavel’s The Karabash School in Russia just across from a polluted copper mine near the Ural mountains, he is asked to video the school activities. At first Pavel has no qualms, thinking that the video shoots are the normal course of a day’s work. Abruptly, the sequences are speeches to glorify Putin’s military victories and prowess.

Pavel becomes alarmed.

The teacher begins to formulate a covert plan to film, documenting propaganda tactics while still upholding his government duty.

The most shocking sequence in the film highlights the mercenary Wagner Group in full military gear showing children how to arm weapons and throw grenades.

With a gradual insidiousness that is jolting and eerie, the students become willing and eager participants.

In another scene during a filmed ceremony, Pavel interrupts the proceedings with the American national anthem sung by Lady Gaga.

The teacher is immediately stopped and called into the office.

Most often Pavel is paralyzed. He fulfills school obligations. Then like a 1920s French Surrealist, he rebels with secret covert actions, crossing out the school windows with tape. X is a distinguishing mark of the Russian protest antiwar movement.

Poignant it is to see Pavel Talankin’s students join the Russian military, not because they want to but because they feel they have no other option, especially concerning finances.

As he is still revered by his students and some faculty, Pavel has vague hopes to be awarded teacher of the year. Recipients receive luxurious apartments right in the heart of Karabash. As luck would have it, the prize goes to Viktor Abakumov, the school science teacher with judgmental eyes and a supervisor of school patriotic speeches.

As time wears on Pavel decides to leave his post. After graduation and saying goodbye to his librarian mother, Pavel abruptly exits to the Czech Republic.

The city of Karabash itself, (the most toxic place in the world, according to the film) has all the romanticism of Bruce Springsteen’s Freehold, New Jersey. To Pavel, the Soviet bloc buildings are gray palaces, and the thunder and rain is sacred to him.

Now, Pavel is free to photograph and film whatever he chooses in whatever manner but he cannot return.

Pavel Talankin is reported to have owned over 400 books.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com