This documentary has amazing footage due the unique situation of the filmmaker having been hired by Putin to make his propaganda film while he aimed Russian presidency after Yeltsin's resignation. There are good lines in interviews with Putin which are important for understanding his concerns and ethos. The interviews and footage with Yesltsin are also nice. Gorbachev's presence is not well explored. Manskiy's idea of showing his own family's reactions to the sudden resigbation of Yesltsin and Putin's rise to power is interesting, but not very well executed, as it is too harassing and long. The outcome is a little sluggish and not really deep or encompassing, perhaps partially due director's own political bias. I liked much more another documentary by him, made under similar conditions, but in North Korea: Under the Sun. There, he speaks less. Here, he talks too much.
Review of Putin's Witnesses
