Putin’s Witnesses / Свидетели Путина
Latvia, Switzerland, Czech Republic 2018
Directed by Vitaly Mansky, documentary, 102 min, eng subtitles, 16+
Written by Vitaly Mansky
Ukraine-born documentary filmmaker Vitaly Manski used to make official profile films for Russia's state television. His work nowadays is anything but pleasing to the authorities, and his former insight not without importance. His latest film contains rare footage shot while working for the state television, and mixes archive footage with personal perspective (director's pensive voiceover and family footage), often requiring viewers to read between the lines. The events depicted in the film start on the last day of 1999, when Vladimir Putin addresses the nation as he becomes Russia's acting president, appointed by Yeltsin himself.
Based on unique and strictly documentary testimonies of the true causes and consequences of the operation “Successor”, as a result of which Russia ended up with the president who still rules the country, it is a chronicle of the rise of power of Putin from an extremely close perspective, featuring such protagonists as Boris Yeltsin, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Russian nation – a silent witness of its own destiny. A revealing, unprecedented portrait of Russia's leader, awarded the Grand Prix for the Best Documentary at Karlovy Vary.
Awards
Karlovy Vary IFF 2018 (Grand Prix - Best Documentary)