Mr. Somebody: A Brief Film Commentary on the film, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”

“Teach your children well
Their father’s hell did slowly go by
Feed them on your dreams
The one they pick’s the one you’ll know by.”
Graham Nash (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young), 1970

Here’s a quick memory test, and more: Regardless of the number of years of formal education you’ve completed in your lifetime, which teachers were the most memorable mentors, and why? I can remember Miss Ross (2nd grade), Mrs. Graham (6th), Master Usellis from prep school, and a few formative profs from my undergrad and graduate school years. But beyond remembering their names and the subjects taught, they were more formative, than merely informative. To me, they were somebody.

Mountain Shadow’s selection for February was the Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.” The numerous and overwhelmingly positive reviews the film has already received have largely focused on the particular Sitz im Leben (“setting in life”) of this true-life story; about a grade-school Russian teacher risking not only his vocation, but his life. Armed with nothing more than a video camera, he refuses to participate in a propaganda program, indoctrination campaign and military recruitment of his school students to become human fodder in support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

More than just another anti-war protester’s story, the personal choices he makes sets a life-altering example for his students. Once again, this true-life cinematic tale reminds us all what definitively characterizes both a nobody, and a somebody.

John Bennison,
Mountain Shadow Director