Navalny: Documentary about Russian dissident Alexei Nawalny.
Film plot and background
Documentary about Russian dissident Alexei Nawalny.
In 2018, Alexei Nawalny is challenging President Vladimir Putin in Russia’s election campaign. The leader of the Russian opposition has faced years of harassment from the authorities, whether through multiple arrests, the revocation of his law licence or systematic denunciation. In 2020, the situation finally culminated in a poison attack on him that was supposed to cost him his life. Since Alexei Navalny already suspects at this point that he is to be silenced by murder, his wife and close confidants bring him to Germany. The diagnosis: Navalny received a dose of the poison Novichok, which was administered to opponents during the Soviet era. He survives with difficulty and recovers in exile in Germany before he wants to return to Russia.
The documentary by director Daniel Rohers explores the question of how the poison attack took place, who was behind it and how Nawalny now feels about it. Navalny is supported by investigative journalist Christo Grozev, with whom Navalny identifies the perpetrators of his attack and confronts them directly. Meanwhile, Navalny is preparing to return to Russia. The media strategist continues to aspire to the highest office in Russia and wants to become Russian president. When he finally travels back to Russia in January 2021, he is already arrested at the airport and sentenced to several years of camp work.
“Nawalny” – background, cinema release
The world premiere of the documentary “Nawalny” took place at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival, where the documentary was honoured with two awards. On the one hand, it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary and, on the other, the Festival Favourite Award.
In German cinemas, “Nawalny” can be seen from 5 May 2022. The documentary received FSK clearance from the age of 12.
