Putin's Playground
Original title: Putin's Playground
Year: 2024
Language: Polish, Bulgarian, Hungarian..
Available subtitles: English
Genre: Current affairs
Country: Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Norway, Latvia, Germany
Runtime: 91 min, 74 min, 52 min
Status: Released
Russia has been trying to rebuild its empire for years. The doctrine of hybrid war introduced by Putin in 2013 assumes attacking Western countries without declaring war. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine deprived us of our sense of security. A couple of documentary filmmakers from Poland embark on a journey to look for answers about threats for Central and Eastern Europe. They track down GRU agents blowing up ammunition depots and poisoning Moscow's opponents with novichok. They meet two presidents, a prime minister, a defence minister, a captured Russian spy and several agents of influence.
Director: Konrad Szołajski
Screenplay: Małgorzata Prociak, Konrad Szołajski
Cinematography: Michał Ślusarczyk
Editing: Bartosz Jędrzejczyk, Paweł Kowalik
Sound Design: Richard Müller, Jan Čeněk
Producers: Małgorzata Prociak, Konrad Szołajski
Co-producers: Filip Remunda, Martichka Bozhilova, Frank Müller, Arta Giga, Ingvild Skage
Festivals
Krakow Film festival // AJB Doc
Reviews
“disturbing and strident call for Europe and the world to truly wake up to the threat to peace Putin’s Russia presents.” Modern Times Review