From My Recent Readings on the Oscar Winners, 2026
MR NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN is a powerful reminder of what authoritarianism looks like up close and why the world must continue to stand firmly against Vladimir Putin.
MR NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN tonight won the Oscar for Best Documentary.
This is not just a documentary. It is a window into how Putin’s regime operates through fear, indoctrination, propaganda, and violence. It shows how even ordinary spaces like schools can be turned into instruments of the state, used to normalize war and condition the next generation to accept lies as patriotism.
The film was shot over roughly two years by Pavel “Pasha” Talankin, who worked at a primary school in Karabash as both videographer and events coordinator. After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Talankin began more seriously documenting what was happening around him as the Kremlin imposed new demands on schools.
Patriotic spectacles became mandatory. Teachers were expected to push state-approved lessons defending the invasion. Schools had to upload video proof of compliance to a government portal. That requirement, ironically, gave Talankin the cover he needed to keep filming what was unfolding without immediately drawing suspicion.
He originally planned to leave his job rather than help carry out the regime’s messaging. But after connecting with director David Borenstein, he chose to stay and continue gathering footage. That decision transformed the documentary into something even more powerful: not simply an outside critique of Putinism, but an inside record of how dictatorship invades daily life and corrupts institutions that are supposed to educate, not indoctrinate.
And that is why this story matters.
Putin is a violent dictator whose rule has brought death, repression, and devastation on a massive scale. Millions of lives have been upended by the wars, displacement, and destruction tied to his regime. Families have been torn apart. Communities have been shattered. Children have grown up amid trauma and fear because of one man’s obsession with domination and imperial conquest.
Too many people still try to sanitize Putin by describing him as merely “strategic” or “strong.” He is neither admirable nor misunderstood. He is the head of a brutal authoritarian system built on coercion, lies, and bloodshed. MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN exposes that system in a way that headlines alone often cannot.
The courage behind the film only deepens its impact. In the summer of 2024, Talankin secretly fled Russia after evidence emerged that police were surveilling his home. With help from the film’s producers and Borenstein, he escaped and sought asylum in Europe. That fact alone says everything about the kind of regime Putin has created: one where telling the truth can force someone into exile.
This film matters because it shows that art can confront power. That truth still matters. That documenting evil is itself an act of resistance. And that in the face of dictatorship, silence is not neutrality it is surrender.
We should say this clearly and without hesitation: we stand against Putin.
We stand against political repression. We stand against propaganda disguised as patriotism. We stand against the destruction of Ukraine and the normalization of authoritarian violence. And we stand with those brave enough to expose it.
Meanwhile, here's Pope Leo XIV's message last Night:
Pope Leo XIV's recent message is about standing firm in the face of power and pressure. He went live at 3 a.m. to address a threat he received from a powerful political figure, choosing to speak directly to the public without a script or intermediaries. He emphasized the importance of conscience and faith, stating, "I will not step back." The Pope highlighted the challenge of navigating influence and power, warning that silence under pressure can become consent.
In other recent messages, Pope Leo XIV has
Advocated for Peace in the Middle East: Expressing concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and other territories, and calling for diplomacy to silence weapons and chart futures with works of peace.
Shared Spiritual Guidance: Delivering a message about pausing for 20 seconds to experience God's presence and spiritual transformation, encouraging devotion, reflection, and obedience to God's call.
Overall, Pope Leo XIV's messages convey a sense of courage, conviction, and compassion, urging people to prioritize peace, dialogue, and faith in the face of adversity.
Finally, My Music Video of the Day: Monti's Csardas for Violin and Piano
