Masha Drokova hat ein steile Karriere vor sich in Russlands populärer, nationaler Jugendbewegung NASHI. Sie ist hübsch und intelligent und wurde bekannt als das Mädchen, dass Putin küsste. Tatsächlich ist sie begeistert von Putins Ausstrahlung und seinen Taten für das Land. Sein Versprechen von einem besseren Russland hat er ihrer Meinung nach erfüllt. Deshalb ist für sie das Engagement in der Bewegung NASHI logische Konsequenz. Und es soll ihr nicht schlecht dabei ergehen. Ihr wird ein Studium ermöglicht und sie wird zur Sprecherin der Bewegung. Schon früh kann sie sich ein Auto und ein Apartment leisten. Ihre glänzende Zukunft wird auf eine harte Probe gestellt, als sie den Blogger Oleg Kashin und seine Freunde kennenlernt. Sie alle verachten die Bewegung und machen das auch öffentlich. Masha muss eine Entscheidung treffen.
CREW
Regie: Lise Birk Pedersen
Kamera: Lars Skree
Schnitt: Janus Billeskov Jansen, Steen Johannesen
Produzent: Helle Faber
Koproduzent: Stefan Kloos
Musik: Tobias Hylander
Sounddesign: Peter Albrechtsen
Colour Grading: Lasse Marcussen
Produktion: Monday Production in Zusammenarbeit mit Made in Copenhagen
Co-Production: Kloos & Co. Medien GmbH Berlin GmbH in Zusammenarbeit mit SWR & ARTE
Mit Unterstützung von: The Danish Film Institute, Media Programm of the European Union, Nordic Film & TV Fund
Dokumentarfilm, Dänemark/ Deutschland 2011 (82 min.)
Regie: Lise Birk Pedersen
Produktion: Monday Production in Zusammenarbeit mit Made in Copenhagen
Koproduktion: Kloos & Co. Medien GmbH Berlin GmbH in Zusammenarbeit mit SWR & ARTE
Weltvertrieb: DR International Sales
Ausgewählte Festivals 2011/2012: International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, Human Richt Watch Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Auszeichnungen: World Cinema Cinematography Award at Sundance 2012
http://putinskissmovie.com/
Nashi is an increasingly popular political youth organization with direct channels to the Kremlin. It’s aim is to support the current political system by developing a future creative elite among the brightest Russian teenagers. In Nashi we meet the 19-year old Marsha, who has become a Nashi commissar and spokesperson. Marsha is a middle class girl. As a young ambitious girl, Marsha joined Nashi when she at the age of 15 was seduced by the energy, the future perspectives and the opportunities this organization was able to provide her.
In very little time she has moved to the very top of the organization becoming the protege of Russia’s Minister of Youth, Vasily Yakemenko. She has posed with her true political leader and icon, Vladimir Putin – she even kissed him at one occasion, when he joined Nashi for a meeting. Marsha belongs to the educated, well-behaved and well-spoken part of Nashi. But Nashi also has a more radical wing, which is more direct in its actions. One of the critical Russian journalists, who have written a lot of Nashi’s dirty provocations against the opposition, is Oleg Khasin. He and Marsha meet in tv-debates and even though they do not share opinions, they become friends. She begins to see a group of critical journalists and people from the opposition, which quickly gets her into trouble within Nashi. And when “unknown perpetrators” are seriously beating up her friend, Oleg Kashin, she realizes that she has to make a stand.
CREW
Director: Lise Birk Pedersen
Cinematography: Lars Skree
Editing: Janus Billeskov Jansen, Steen Johannesen
Producer: Helle Faber
Co-Producer: Stefan Kloos
Music: Tobias Hylander
Sounddesign: Peter Albrechtsen
Colour Grading: Lasse Marcussen
Production: Monday Production in collaboration with Made in Copenhagen
Co-Production: Kloos & Co. Medien GmbH Berlin GmbH in collaboration with SWR & ARTE
With the support of: The Danish Film Institute, Media Programm of the European Union, Nordic Film & TV Fund
“As shown in these films, the best way that a state can be tyrannical is by breeding cynicism toward democratic freedom.” Govindini Murty & Jason Apuzzo, The Atlantic
“Putin’s Kiss is required viewing! ” Andrew O’Hehir, Salon
“Putin’s Kiss is more than just the portrait of a naive young woman. It’s a frightening look at Putin’s warped version of democracy.” V. A. Musetto, New York Post
“Proving it pays to stick with a docu subject for the long haul, Putin’s Kiss tracks four years in the life of a firebrand member of Russia’s ultranationalist Nashi movement who eventually has a Damascene conversion of sorts. [The film tells] a riveting story about contemporary Russia’s dark side…[with] strong, vivid characters, particularly Drokova, who in the early going, recalls Reese Witherspoon’s Tracy Flick from Election with her prim schoolgirl outfits and ruthless ambition.” Leslie Felperin, Variety
Documentary, Denmark/ Germany 2011 (82 min.)
Director: Lise Birk Pedersen
Production: Monday Production in collaboration with Made in Copenhagen
Co-Production: Kloos & Co. Medien GmbH Berlin GmbH in collaboration with SWR & ARTE
World Sales: DR International Sales
Selected Festivals 2011/2012: International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam, Human Richt Watch Festival, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Awards: World Cinema Cinematography Award at Sundance 2012
http://putinskissmovie.com/