Anyone can make the difference
- if they dare
When Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, primary schools across Russia are transformed into recruitment centers for the war. One brace teacher faces the ethical dilemmas of working in a system defined by propaganda and violence. He secretly starts filming what is really happening at the school where he teaches. Pasha's footage reveals the transformation of Russian society, Putin's iron grip on the population and the heartbreaking moments when former students are sent to the front line. The film is a reminder that courage can take many forms when all seems lost.
Awards (2025):
Sundance (USA) - World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award
Docville (Belgium) - Topics Section Award
Movies That Matter (Netherland) - Grand Jury Competition - special mention
One World (Czech Republic) - Student's Jury Award
Zagreb Dox (Croatia) - Main International Competition Award
Docs Against Gravity (Poland) - Bydgoszcz Art.Doc Award
DocsBarcelona (Spain) - Premi Amnistia Internacional Catalunya
Cinetopia Film Festival Ann Arbor (USA) - Audience Award
Telluride Mountainfilm Festival (USA) - Best Documentary Feature
Docaviv (Izrael) - Beyond the Screen Award - Honorable Mention
made in copenhagen, PINK
with the support of Danis Film Institute, Nordisk Film & TV Fond, FilmFyn, Fritt Ord, Czech Film Fund, Hermod Lannungs Fond
produced in association with BBC Storyville, DR, co-produced with ZDF in collaboration with arte
with the support from NRK, SVT, RTS, VPRO, Czech Television
financed in collaboration with DR Sales
| DIRECTOR | David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin |
| PRODUCER | Helle Faber |
| CO-PRODUCERS | Radovan Síbrt, Alžběta Karásková, Petra Dobešová (PINK) |
| DOP | Pavel Talankin |
| EDITING | Nicolaj Monberg, Rebekka Lonqvist |
| MUSIC | Michal Rataj, Jonas Struck |
| SALES | Kim Christiansen - DR SALES |