"Mr Nobody Against Putin" is the story of a popular primary school teacher at a small in Karabash, a mining town in the Ural mountains, who had been plodding along as school videographer when his country (Russia) invaded Ukraine and then enacted the "patriotic education policy." The changes he saw in the students alarmed him so much he kept filming and then decided to show the world...
Here's how to watch "Mr Nobody Against Putin" online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free.
"Mr Nobody Against Putin" premieres on Tuesday, October 14 on BBC Four at 10 p.m. BST. It is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
• WATCH FREE — BBC Four/ BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
That teacher/videographer is Pavel Talankin and his work is a time lapse revelation of how education can be used by a state to brainwash its young.
This, Talankin shows us, is through falsehoods and mistruths, endless military drills and the swearing of oaths of allegiance. Their potential and future is gradually and inevitably directed towards the defense of the motherland.
He films his own despairing reaction to developments and notes how students in a typical Russian town become swept up in a rush to war as their older brothers are conscripted. The film is both brilliant and profoundly depressing.
Read on to find out how to watch "Mr Nobody Against Putin" online, on TV and from anywhere.
How to watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' for FREE in the U.K.
How to watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' from abroad
Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), "Mr Nobody Against Putin" should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away from the U.K. and want to view a U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list.
3. Sit back and watch the show. Head to BBC iPlayer to watch "Mr Nobody Against Putin" online and on-demand.
How to watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' around the world
Can I watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' in the United States?
Unfortunately, here is no release date for "Mr Nobody Against Putin" in the U.S. but the film is still circulating the festival circuit so that will probably change soon. Come back here for details because when we know, you'll know.
However, if you are a Brit in the States for work or on vacation you can catch the show by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.
Watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' (2025) in the U.K.
"Mr Nobody Against Putin" premieres on Tuesday, October 14 on BBC Four at 10 p.m. BST. It is also available to stream on BBC iPlayer shortly after broadcast.
You don't have to miss it if you are a Brit exiled abroad because you can unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN. We recommend NordVPN – we've tested it with BBC iPlayer and it works great (see our best BBC iPlayer VPN guide for more).
Can I watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' online or on TV in Canada?
As with the U.S., there is no release date for "Mr Nobody Against Putin" in Canada but the film is still circulating the festival circuit so that will probably change soon. Come back here for details because when we know, you'll know.
However, if you are a Brit in the Great White North for work or on vacation you can catch the show much earlier by using a VPN such as NordVPN, choosing U.K. from the list and selecting BBC iPlayer.
Can I watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' online in Australia?
At the time of writing there has been no announcement about if or where "Mr Nobody Against Putin" will be broadcast in Australia but if that changes you'll read about it here first.
However, if you are a Brit working or on vacation Down Under and you want to catch the show on the BBC you can do so by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
Can I watch 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' online in New Zealand?
There are currently no plans to air "Mr Nobody Against Putin" in New Zealand but if you are a Brit currently there for work or vacation you can catch the show on BBC iPlayer by using a VPN such as NordVPN.
'Mr Nobody Against Putin' - Featured characters
- Pavel “Pasha” Talankin - Self (Russian teacher, videographer, and co-director whose footage is central to the film)
- Viktor Abakumov - Self (archive footage)
- Lavrenti Beria - Self (archive footage)
- Yevhen Konovalets - Self (archive footage)
- Vladimir Putin - Self (archive footage)
- Joseph Stalin - Self (archive footage)
- Pavel Sudoplatov - Self (archive footage)
'Mr Nobody Against Putin' - FAQ
What has happened to Pavel Talankin since the film was released?
Once the brave and illuminating film was completed (a Danish-Czech co-production) he was forced to leave Russia for his own safety.
More from Tom's Guide
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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