1549482
1549482

Politzek, the voices that challenge the Kremlin

2026-03-07 fr 90m
DocumentaryDrama
In Russia, criticizing the war in Ukraine or Vladimir Putin’s regime has become a crime. Thousands of ordinary citizens are being arrested, tried, and imprisoned. They are called “Politzek”: political prisoners. Filmed clandestinely over the course of more than a year, Politzek gives a platform to those who, despite the fear, continue to speak out against Putin’s repressive Russia. Through the intersecting stories of a teenager sentenced to five years in prison for criticizing the government on social media, a young artist jailed for placing anti-war stickers, a human rights activist, and two theater directors facing Kafkaesque trials, the film unveils the machinery of state repression in Russia. With rare footage, broken yet unyielding voices, this is a story of silenced resistance.

Director

Manon Loizeau

Writer

Manon Loizeau

Director

Ekaterina Mamontova

Writer

Sacha Koulaeva

Producer

Stéphanie Lebrun

Producer

Hanne Phlypo

politics resistance totalitarian regime protest dictatorship justice human rights russian politics anti war protest russian leaders russia political documentary russian invasion of ukraine (2022) political prisoners communist regime authoritarian regime anti-war activist state repression

Status

Released

Countries

  • Belgium
  • France
  • Germany

Companies

  • Clin d'oeil Films
  • Wildbird Films
  • Shelter Prod
  • France Télévisions