As "Navalny" (2022 release; 98 min) opens, Russian opposition leader has survived an attempt on his life, and after recovering in Germany, it is "January 17, 2021" and his is about to fly back to Moscow. We then go the "Three Years Earlier", as we see Navalny campaigning of ever bigger and enthusiastic crowds. At this point we are 10 min into the documentary.
Couple of comments: this is the second documentary by Canadian director Daniel Roher, whose prior film "Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band" received much acclaim. Here Roher tackles a very different topic: how one man (and his very small entourage) takes on Putin and the Kremlin regime of thugs and murderers. Much of the documentary focuses on the buildup of the attempted murder (in August, 2020) and his return to Moscow 5 months later. Roher seems to have gotten unfettered access, and we get tons of never before seen footage of what day-to-day life is like for someone who could be killed any day by the Kremlin. Navalny's wife is featured extensively as well. Perhaps most stunningly is how a Bulgarian data journalist from Bellingcast pieces together what exactly happened in the leadup to August, 2020. It's like a political thriller movie, except (as Navalny keeps reminding us), "this actually happened". The courage that Navalny shows throughout the film is beyond words. True leadership in the highest order. In other words: the exact opposite of Putin and yes, Trump. PLEASE NOTE: the movie's overall rating showing here on IMDB of just 5.5/10 is grossly misleading. The movie has been rated 10,000 times, undoubtedly very negatively by countless Russian trolls and Trumpist trolls (because, you know, they HATE democracy and they LOVE a good ol' fashioned murderous dictator)., and of course without actually having seen the film. In contrast, all 30 written reviews submitted to date here on IMDb rate this documentary 9/10 or 10/10, and the movie is currently rated 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, all for very good reason.
"Navalny" premiered last night on CNN, and will soon also start streaming on HBO Max. If you want to get a true understanding of what kind of leadership and courage it takes to stand up against Putin, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
*UPDATE* As I fully expected, "Navaly" is nominated for the Best Documentary Oscar, and I am already going on record that it will also WIN the Oscar. There are several other outstanding documentaries nominated for the Oscar, including "Fire of Love" and "All The Beauty and the Bloodshed", but in the end, "Navalny" resonates more than ever (with Russia's Putin in all all-out, if losing, war against Ukraine).
