{
  "id": 3728748,
  "title": "Teacher of Oscar-winning Russian filmmaker behind 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin' calls him a traitor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/teacher-of-oscar-winning-russian-filmmaker-behind-mr-nobody-against",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-27T11:45:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40436696/teacher-of-oscar-winning-russian-filmmaker-behind-mr-nobody-against-putin-calls-him-a-traitor"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pavel Talankin, the filmmaker behind the Oscar-winning documentary \"Mr. Nobody Against Putin,\" has been labeled a traitor by his former teacher, Nina Zabugornova. The documentary, co-directed by Talankin and David Borenstein, documents the changes at a Russian school following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The film reveals how the school altered its curriculum to promote patriotism and justify the war, using history lessons and new \"patriotic hours.\" Talankin fled Russia in 2024, stating the importance of exposing Russian students' indoctrination. However, Zabugornova, who taught Talankin for four decades in their hometown of Karabash, accused him of turning his back on his country. She expressed regret that she may not have provided him with enough guidance when he was younger, potentially contributing to his actions.",
  "summary": "Pavel Talankin, who filmed how one Russian school tried to justify the war in Ukraine to its students in a clandestine project for the Oscar-winning “Mr. Nobody Against Putin”, was guilty of treachery, his former teacher told Russian state TV. The documentary, by Talankin and David Borenstein, was based on two years of footage that Talankin recorded at a school where he was employed in the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Pavel Talankin's documentary 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin' exposes Russian school indoctrination.",
    "Former teacher Nina Zabugornova calls Talankin a traitor for his stance against Putin.",
    "Talankin fled Russia in 2024 to highlight the film's message on Russian students' indoctrination."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}