Dilip

I saw 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin' at a film festival in early April 2025. Not only did I enjoy the film, especially learning about the fun and brave main character and co-director Pavel "Pasha" Ilyich Talankin, but I got to enjoy a Q&A session and later talk with the other co-director, David Borenstein.

Pasha is from a town of 10,000 in the Ural Mountains of Russia and has a job of organizing events and documenting them and everyday life at a school (K-12?). Things change dramatically when Russia invades Ukraine and schools are asked to give not just scripted patriotic pro-war education, but also are exposed to military education, including marching in uniform, having grenade throwing competitions, and more.

Pasha is a hero; he loves his students who look to him for safe conversations and a space in his video office/classroom. What he does in the face of government militarization of the classroom makes for a fascinating story.

What's there not to love about "Yellow Submarine"? I can't remember if I ever saw the whole film before but just saw the digitally restored version outdoors on the big screen.

It's great for the whole family (though some of the animated violence might bother the very young, perhaps preschool and younger). My elementary aged daughter sang along, laughed quite a bit, and kept talking about the film on the way home.

I think it's even more exciting for adults, who will enjoy the humor more (the funniest line for me was a reference to an English teacher). Considering the historical context of the late 1960s, this was a perfect antidote to the Vietnam War and civil unrest in the U.S., painting, quite literally, a Wonderland-like answer of love ("All You Need is Love") and peace.

The animation is remarkable - and would be even if it were made today. The bright colors, shapes, playful subplots, fantastic characters, and clever social commentary all highly recommend the film.

And, of course, the obvious - what great music! Even if the movie were viewed as one extended early music video, it would be groundbreaking and delightful. If the well-known songs don't already inspire sing-along (we were outdoors but even indoors in a theater it would be difficult not to join in!), there is an explicit invitation by the Beatles themselves to sing.

I wish films that films that treated so many interesting issues without offensive language or inappropriate violence were more the norm today. We have a lot to cherish in "Yellow Submarine" but also to learn from.

My review is influenced by three very positive "Pooh" background points:

1) I grew up with Pooh and the stories remind me of my childhood;

2) I started reading Pooh to my daughter when she was a baby and we continued through at least Kindergarten - and my love for the story has grown immeasurably through this shared experience (she loves Pooh, too!);

and

3) my love for Pooh also grew when I read "The Tao of Pooh", which illuminated the "bear of very little brain" to a modest and wise philosopher.

My family saw the film on opening night tonight (Thursday August 2, 2018 - though opening is listed as August 3?) and thought it was great. It is a very sweet story told with good acting and readily accessible both to children (probably aged 6 and up as there are a few scenes that might scare even those aged 6-10 a bit) and to adults with children in their lives or a love of Pooh.

POSITIVES

* The film was, to me, rather beautifully and sweetly sentimental. I felt choked up many times in the first third or so of the film to see the charming innocence of childhood contrasted with the "reality" of an imperfect professional life. How could Christopher Robin leave behind the joy and simplicity of his childhood friends and end up in a world where human bonds are not as cherished?

* Ideals of friendship, caring, and love were portrayed to appeal both to children (maybe not to older children or teens -or adults! - with cynicism) and to adults. Children will see the contrast between happy-go-lucky play and friendship bonds vs. sometimes unfriendly and uncaring professional demands. However, I do think that children need to also get the message that hard work is important. Adults will find the message overly simplified, but especially those with children in their lives will likely find this to be a gentle reminder of priorities in life. The story at least sets the stage for considering seeking balance of child-like creative outlook while being attentive to one's responsibilities.

* I loved the pacing of the film. I admire stories like this that reveal themselves naturally and warmly, not in a rush with so much presented to the viewer so quickly that it can deaden one's appreciation. The film lingered nicely and could have even continued a bit longer to let the last bits of it savor nicely. Without spoiling things, there is even nice footage during the closing credits that is fun to watch.

* With a bit of reservation, I liked the acting and found the performances, especially of Ewan McGregor as Christopher Robin, to be memorable. His daughter Madeline, played by Bronte Carmichael, was sweet but could have been built up a bit more. I wish that Hayley Atwell, playing Christopher Robin's wife Evelyn, could have played a larger role and her talent allowed to shine more. However, I also understand that the key relationship was of Christopher Robin with Winnie the Pooh. Winnie and friends were spot on to what I might have expected!

NEGATIVES

* Given that the film will appeal to a broad range of ages, I feel that an early historical scene (I'm saying it this way to keep from its being a spoiler) could have been sanitized a bit. Many children will find this scene, albeit short, disturbing.

* As mentioned above, I wish that the message of working hard were also included in the film. It's great to honor the sweetness and playfulness of childhood, but one can and should expect some seriousness of purpose as one picks up responsibility in adult life. All it would take would be some quick dialog or use of even a minor character as an exemplar. But this is a minor point and one that caregivers can explain to younger children.

SUMMARY

I wish that more films of this kind were commonly made. It is a reminder of the sweetness of childhood and the importance of persistence of qualities of friendship, connection, and groundedness as one grows and needs to include in the balance responsibilities of adulthood. The Pooh characters were lovely and I found Ewan McGregor's role memorable, though I wish that the wife and daughter's roles were a bit more dimensional.

We loved the film! I would recommend it to children (probably six and above) and adults with any connection to Winnie the Pooh or to children.