Svideteli Putina

As a person with general knowledge of Russian and Putin is was very interested to see some unique footage from the start of Putin his reign. It was interesting to see a young Putin come to power. But since the material was filmed as part of a PR-video it didn't really contain very critical questions. Even though this is understandable because nobody knew how things would turn out (Putin being in power for more or less 18 years). For me the documentary also missed more explanation about what exactly was going. It was a fly on the wall type of film but it didn't manage to be much more than that. If it makes one thing clear though it is the excellent understanding of Putin and his helpers that PR and (public) image are key to getting power and maintaining it.

"The life of a monarch is quite complicated," just think, because he once said that, or -"...how your children will live, how the children of your friends and family will live," well, now some people understand what kind of children he was talking about.

In general, all these reflections, these unique videos, it is impossible to watch without sadness, without sadness for the years that have passed, for the opportunities that have gone irrevocably. Dictatorship and imperialism, chauvinism and ignorance, autocracy and a general crisis covering all spheres - all these rudiments form the image of modern history. Everything changes, everything moves, but human vices remain monumental, and in this vacuum, all this transforms the surreal absolute.

This documentary has amazing footage due the unique situation of the filmmaker having been hired by Putin to make his propaganda film while he aimed Russian presidency after Yeltsin's resignation. There are good lines in interviews with Putin which are important for understanding his concerns and ethos. The interviews and footage with Yesltsin are also nice. Gorbachev's presence is not well explored. Manskiy's idea of showing his own family's reactions to the sudden resigbation of Yesltsin and Putin's rise to power is interesting, but not very well executed, as it is too harassing and long. The outcome is a little sluggish and not really deep or encompassing, perhaps partially due director's own political bias. I liked much more another documentary by him, made under similar conditions, but in North Korea: Under the Sun. There, he speaks less. Here, he talks too much.

However, this documentary should have been reduced by a half, and mixed with other footages to better show who this newcomer, Putin, was and how he let perspire his future politics (as it was clearly stated by the wife of the director the night Elstine announnced he was retiring!).

Some very good part though, especially the discussion on the national anthem.

I saw this last night on BC's Knowledge Network, or I saw about half when it was too frustrating as the subtitles were just not legible.

But, why is this? It happens in almost all such documentaries when it would be so easily changed with the white text against a black background?

I think the best of TV is the under sung documentaries and I really appreciate the hours, the years it takes to bring one to air. So, why ruin all that with something so easily fixed?