Watercooler Pick
Navalny
- Movie
- Where to Find It: CNN via Max
- Rating: TV-14
- Runtime: 90 minutes
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Filmed in secret over the last half of 2020, before the Ukraine war, this CNN Films documentary captures the Russian opposition leader and his family as they hide out in Berlin while he recovers from being poisoned, all while tapping his own team of investigators to expose his would-be murderers.
He was Vladimir Putin’s biggest and boldest rival inside Russia, and if you’ve followed his story, you have some idea of how shocking it was when he was struck ill by the nerve agent Novichok, Putin’s “signature murder weapon.” The story behind the assassination attempt is even more shocking, and this 2023 Oscar winning documentary threads together the full narrative, combining an up-close portrait of the celebrity dissident with a riveting expose.
In a jaw-dropping unraveling of events, Navalny’s team set a series of traps to expose Putin’s henchmen, ultimately uncovering the entire assassination operation. You will be left wondering how it is even possible that all of this happened in our current century, much less in the last few years.
In the wake of the news about his death in a Russian prison, Navalny is an urgent, real-life espionage thriller that’s a must-watch.
After it won the 2023 Oscar for Best Documentary, Yulia Navalny, the wife of Alexei Navalny, was joined by their children on the stage. “To all political prisoners around the world, we must not be afraid to protest dictators and authoritarian regimes. They tried to kill my husband for telling the truth, for defending democracy. I’m dreaming of the day you will be free, and the day our country will be free. Stay strong my love.”
Where to stream it: Max
- Moods: enlighten me, grip me, shock me, up my adrenaline
- Interests: acclaimed and award winning, conversation worthy, documentary, international, spies
