A documentary about propaganda and militarization in a Russian school after the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, filmed by a school videographer from a small town. It is also a powerful story of resistance — of one “ordinary” person who refuses to become a cog in a system designed to shape young minds.
The film was met with great acclaim at international festivals — including Sundance, the Robert Awards, and BAFTA — and has recently won an Academy Award. Within Russian-speaking audiences, it has sparked intense and polarized debate, but we consider it a major cinematic event and an important historical document.