Putin's Witnesses (2018) - full transcript

Have you already opened your present?
- Not yet.

You're so patient, Vitaly.

Girls!

Is this for me?
- Yes.

Girls!

Look! Mummy's unwrapping her present.

Good morning.
- Good morning.

Good morning.
- Presents are there, come on.

Who has this one?
- There are names on them.

Chocolates! And lollipops!

Nika, now show your happy face!



How do you like the chocolates?
- Yummy, I love them.

Lyova!
You have no present, have you?

Lyova has no present.
- Poor thing!

Songs with lyrics.
- Yeah.

Natalia, any success with TV?

Come to me, beard!

Nothing to add.
- Nika, turn around.

She bought a New Year present for everyone.
But what about you?

Look at you, dear!

It's hilarious.

I want to say just a few
more personal words than usual.

I want to ask for your forgiveness.

Who'll address the people at midnight?
Putin?!

Stop it! Let me relax.
Why are you stalking me?!



Mum, stop it!

What a freak!

What seemed simple,

turned out to be tormenting and difficult.

Leaving behind the grey,
stagnant, totalitarian past

and finding yourself in the bright,
rich and civilized future.

I myself believed in this...

Honey, open the door!

Get lost with your camera!

This is a chronicle.
- Enough harassing us with your chronicle!

Leave us alone! We're human beings!

Why are you stalking us all the time?

That's a chronicle! Vitaly, it's enough.

It's getting on my nerves, I cannot...

Do you know what happened?
- But why are you shooting me?

Who else?
- I am about to burst into tears.

I believe that time has come...

Would you like me to say something
high flown in front of the camera?

I told you, I'm shocked!

The "firm hand" has arrived
that the nation is so fond of.

Let's see how he'll tighten the screws.

It's horrible!

We'll remember Yeltsin's time
as an epoch of happiness.

We'll think we had lived in Utopia.

Do you agree with me?
- Sure, I do!

So why are you...
Talk to me!

I think it's a nightmare.

Our Utopia is gone all of a sudden.
What will become of us?

I am leaving...

There hasn't ever been
a President like the incoming.

I did all I could...
- A grey and modest mouse...

not according to my health,

but on the basis of all the problems.

Such a dirty trick on New Year's Eve!

Now who will address us at midnight?
Putin will!

Words fail me, you know.
Words fail me.

The world is shaken,
it'll be afraid of us again.

Nika!

Have you had a wash?
Can you come out in your robe for a sec?

Have you heard what happened today?
- I did!

And what do you think of it?

Dad, put away your camera!
- Don't yell!

Do you know who's our President now?
- Yes, I do. Putin. Shut the door!

Shut the door!

In accordance with the Constitution,

as I resign,

I have signed a decree,

placing the duties
of the President of Russia

on the head of government,
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

You deserve happiness.

You deserve happiness and calm.

Happy New Year!

Happy new century, my dear ones!

That's it, get out!
Dad, it's not funny.

Shut the door!

Dad, let me shoot you
and you'll tell me your opinion.

Okay?
- Do you think I have an opinion?

So, you don't have one?

Sweetie?
- Yeah?

But our life's fun, isn't it?
- Indeed!

Because he's like Mao Zedong, as Mum said.

Who's like Mao Zedong?
- Our new President.

Like Mao Zedong?
- He was also a dictator.

Dad, that's it.
Go and get ready for the New Year.

Let's say it nicely and clearly.

You've called the Mansky family
on New Year's Eve.

Best wishes for the New Millennium!

Hooray!

Call us tomorrow,
either on the pager or the cell phone.

Happy New Year to everyone! Bye!

Happy New Year!

Dear friends!

On this New Year’s Eve,

my family and I, just as you probably did,

planned to listen to the address
by the President of Russia,

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin.

But things took a different turn.

Today, on 31 December 1999,

Russia’s first President
decided to resign.

He has asked me to address the nation.

Dear citizens of Russia, dear compatriots!

The powers of the head of state
have been turned over to me today.

The presidential election
will be held in three months.

Vladimir Putin took over the state,
the Russian Federation,

from the hands of Boris Yeltsin
who resigned voluntarily.

He took it over with its Constitution,
its colours and its anthem,

the basic symbols
of the new and democratic Russia,

having replaced the Soviet symbols,
seemingly left behind in the past for good

together with the Soviet Union.

By the way, the shift in power
on New Year's Eve,

moreover, during the transition
to the New Millennium,

was a really wise decision.

In line with a longstanding tradition,

the whole state drifted
into a state of rampant revelry,

incapable of sober analysis
of the ongoing events.

At the same time, during these days

Russians were supposed
to get used to the idea

that now they will have a new President.

During these very days
I started shooting a film

that was supposed to serve PR purposes
for Putin's electioneering.

We'll do as follows.

We'll order you about a little
with your permission.

May we? - You may.

Much of the footage was included
in my old film about Putin.

The audience discussed trivial details,
like the watch on his right hand,

rather than listening
to his actual message.

But reviewing the shots today,

I noticed that already as Acting President

Putin clearly defined

what some worship
and others curse him for.

Our main goal is to make people believe
in everything we say and do.

That ours is a heartfelt position,

dictated only and solely
in consideration of the national interests.

Solely that.
This is the key to success.

If people believe in it...
that's the main thing.

Did you get it?

The task is to convince the Russian people

that national interests are more important
than the individual.

Meanwhile, his electioneering
was in full swing.

Although, publicly Putin
did not announce any electioneering.

He was just omnipresent
on all the TV channels.

Everybody reported to him on TV:
governors, army and security people,

work collectives, rural labourers,
children and old folks.

And everybody was happy about him,

which partially reflected
the actual state of affairs.

And his technologists
skilfully modified his image

from the "firm hand" to a glad-hander.

Can you stand there, in the back?

Rest on the knee for a while.

Fling the jacket over your shoulder.

Shut your eyes for a second and relax.

Look at me kindly.

As kindly as you can.

However, the key element
of the electioneering

was reliance on the army
and threat to the security of Russia.

Therefore Putin, naturally, spent
Defender of the Fatherland Day

in the Hero City, Volgograd,

communicating with the veterans
of the long-gone Battle of Stalingrad

and promptly, in the spotlights
of all the Russian TV channels,

turning to the heroes of the new
victorious war in Chechnya.

I would like to seize the opportunity
and thank the Russian people

here, in Volgograd, particularly,
for the support of our army.

In two and a half months
of non-existent electioneering...

Let's act according to the plan.

Putin managed to visit
almost all the regions of the state.

And, certainly, on 8 March,
the International Women's Day,

The Acting President,
at the same time candidate for presidency,

symbolically enough accompanied
by all the principal TV channels,

arrived in the womens' capital of Russia,
the city of weavers, Ivanovo.

What kind of TV campaign spots
are you going to have?

Will you participate at any TV debates?

It is my opinion that people
involved in practical activities,

either in the Parliament
or in Governmental authorities,

have to prove their competence
with practical deeds

rather than TV spots
or any other advertising devices

or means of advertising.

The so-called TV debate is one of them.

TV campaign spots even more!
That is advertising.

You don't need to find out
during the electioneering

whether Tampax or Snickers
are more important.

Therefore, I won't be doing it.

That is true.

Putin did not sink to the level
of campaign spots or TV debates.

As far as I remember, all the rest debated,
emphasizing the chosenness of Putin.

Obviously, it was one of the main tricks
of the electioneering.

My team meticulously documented
the candidate for presidency

in his unremitting toil
for the benefit of the people.

Before, in a film
made by my colleagues and I,

we had asked: "Who is Mr. Putin?"

and his childhood friends, classmates
and neighbours answered.

I found the memories of his class teacher
as the most emotional of all.

Apparently, she had exerted a special influence
on the formation of his personality.

Thus I proposed to Putin
that he could visit his class teacher.

Soon Putin flew to St. Petersburg
for the funeral of his former boss.

We were informed that he would,
all of a sudden, visit Vera Dmitrievna.

So we went to her home
to wait for her guest.

Hardly anyone suspected
that so many people would arrive

to bid farewell to the paragon
of the half-forgotten ideals

of the romantic epoch
of the first wave democrats.

A line of people,
stretching for hundreds of metres...

Look at the line!

Today it's cold outside.
- It is.

Vladimir Putin, a former student
and aid of Sobchak,

was among the first who arrived
to bid the final farewell.

It was obvious that the head of the state
arrived at the funeral ceremony

not only as an official figure
but also as a friend of the family

offering his personal condolences.

Security measures applied
in St. Petersburg today

were unprecedented
and distinctly different from the standard.

All concerned Vladimir Putin.

Yet the day before the secret service
reported on an assassination attempt.

Sergei Devyatov, the representative
of the Federal Guard Service, said

that in this particular case

not a single psychopath
but an organization was behind the attempt.

Specifically, the Chechen rebels.

For the first time the security services...

That's awful!

Came up with a public announcement
rather than keeping it top secret.

Many have already associated it
with the upcoming election.

I'm so worried about him, every day.

My day begins when I turn on TV
and listen to where, who and how...

I'm so worried that I cannot open it.

Hello! - Hello!
- May I come in?

Yes. - Hello!

However, the arrival
of the Presidential Security Service

spoilt the surprise
of Putin's unexpected appearance.

I knew it!
It's not so easy to fool me.

As soon as they entered the classroom,
I already told them,

"You've just thought of doing something
and I already know it!"

Vera Dmitrievna, calm down!

You say that you are nervous,

but I can feel it;
I have a seventh sense.

Always and about everything.

Vera Dmitrievna, please!

I'll pull myself together!

Please. Or we'll have to cancel it.
- No, no, I'm fine.

But on that day, Putin returned to Moscow,
not having visited his class teacher.

Just a week later
he returned to St. Petersburg,

this time to meet Tony Blair,
the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The protocol of this meeting
was considered quite provisional:

visits to the Hermitage and Peterhof,
a joint briefing,

and a premiere at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Leningrad! Leningrad!

Leningrad!

The Kirov Theatre! The Kirov Theatre!

NATO, go home!

It goes without saying
that the importance of this visit

for Putin's electioneering

manifested itself in the fact that the West
represented by the UK Prime Minister,

demonstrated its support for Putin

and its wish to see him
as the President of Russia.

Most probably it was the first time

when Putin appeared in the Tsar’s Box
as the leader of the state.

It’s hard to picture the feelings of the guy
raised in a St. Petersburg communal apartment,

having joined the elite of the world
at breakneck speed.

During this official visit to his hometown
Putin did meet his teacher.

Why not do it in advance?

Good evening.
- Good evening.

Guys, would you step aside?

They'll ring, and you'll open the door.

They won't think of it.
- They will.

This became the final episode
of the electioneering film

that I produced
and that was aired on the state TV

shortly before the day
of the Presidential Election.

Hello!

Certainly, this episode made up by me
and approved by Putin

characterized the hero
in the most positive way

in the eyes of the Russian electorate.

Although, it made no fundamental changes
in the election scenario.

Anatoly Borisovich is also at home.

Tolya!

Sit down, sit down.

How am I? As you see, nothing new.

We've just moved the sofa
from one side to the other.

What's happening with the sparkling wine,
Vera Dmitrievna?

I do have some.

Well, to our meeting!

Okay, ready, one more time...

Say, "Cheese!" That's great!

Now we'll both have a talk.

Sit down the way you'll be sitting.

I cannot yet...
As they say, teeny weeny...

Don't look at me, Vera Dmitrievna.
- Right, I'll look at him.

Goodbye, good luck.

Take care.

I'll call you when I find it out.

Alright. Won't you forget?
- No, I won't.

Sometimes you do forget...

Remember how I almost missed the train
because of you?

When you promised to take me on your...
- Bone shaker?

He's not there,
and I'm already late for the train...

It turns out he has forgotten!

Do excuse me for...
- It's alright.

I've kept you for so long.

Don't let anyone throw it out.

I won't. I'll have it myself.

I'll have it after a drink.

The state is like a garden -

you have to destroy the weed
so that something worthwhile grows.

We’ll do just that!

Let's take it as an electoral mandate!

You just remember that I follow
your every step, every gesture!

Tie me by the leg.

No, no! Do whatever you have to.
But do remember!

Take care.

Thank you.
- It's time to win.

It's time to win.

This phrase turned into
the slogan of Putin’s electioneering.

But to me personally and, as I assume,
the majority of Russians,

the beginning of Putin’s electioneering
dates back to a time

long before he was appointed
as Acting President.

The beginning of Putin’s electioneering
has a fixed day, hour and even a minute -

8 September 1999,

11:59 PM,

when in a sleepy suburb of Moscow,
loaded with bags of hexogen,

a residential building
with its inhabitants was blown up.

One more house followed in five days,

and then the explosions
broke out all over the country.

I remember very well
how military patrols began appearing

in the buildings
and on the streets of cities.

The country was stricken with fear.

The man in the street,
having gained an ear for the media,

clamoured out louder and louder,
demanding the "firm hand".

Vladimir Putin was appointed
as Prime Minister

22 days before the first explosion.

He became the sixth Prime Minister
of Yeltsin's administration,

so his rating was almost zero.

Irrespective of their origin,

the explosions appeared of benefit
to his rating,

which during the next seven months
grew up to 50 per cent.

The famous quote,
"We’ll rub them out in the outhouse,"

became a new symbol of the time.

By the end of the working day,
Putin accepted our offer

to go to the site of the first
block of flats blown up in Moscow.

Are you here for the first time?

Just to be clear,

neither then nor now
could I actually believe

in Putin's personal involvement
in the bombings of these blocks of flats.

But the fact is that by accident
an attempt by FSB officers became known

to plant similar hexogen sacks

in the basement
of a block of flats in Ryazan.

This event allowed serious questions
to be posed to the authorities.

Do you believe
that the end justifies the means?

The end justifies the means?
- Whose end? I did not get it.

Their goals? Do they justify the means?

The goals of the terrorists?
- Yes.

Can you actually...?

I believe no sane person
can ever decide on such an act.

To blow up a building with people in it...

Innocent people... At night!

It's really... It's beyond me!
It's unbelievable.

Unbelievable.

It's inhuman cruelty!

We just have to understand...

We can counter this only by force!

Otherwise we won't...

We won't safeguard our state
and protect our people.

On 13 March, half a year
had passed from the day

when the block of flats
on Kashirskoe Shosse was blown up.

Now there is nothing left,
except of a chapel

and photos of the horrible tragedy

that had occurred on Kashirskoe Shosse.

Just some twenty metres from that place

there is a school
where a polling station is situated.

People from the nearby houses
came to vote here.

Many needed no campaign.

Half a year ago they made sure

that only strong and rigid rule
was needed in order to protect.

Vitaly, let's go!

Do you really think we have to vote?
- Yes, I do.

Even if nothing depends on us,
at least we won't be for the communists.

Will our vote matter?

It's hard to tell.

But let's go anyway.

It's important to us since it's the first
time we can vote as registered citizens.

Before we were nothing.

So, we're going to vote.

Chechens do not want
to lay down their arms

and they do not use the opportunities
provided by the Russian Parliament.

They are not making use
of the Law on Amnesty.

Whoever does not comply is waging war.

Are you worried?
- No, not at all.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, tell me please...

They say there might be
an outbreak in Chechnya,

related to the election.

Are you in control of the situation?
Any signs of resistance?

All the necessary security measures
have been taken.

We have information
on militant action in Chechnya.

It is clear why.

This matters more
than who they will vote for.

It's important that they vote,

knowing they have voted
for the future President.

They will demand appropriate actions
for their republic.

I think that is very important.

And I have every reason to believe

that the election in Chechnya
will be successful.

Thank you.

Good-bye!

Would you step back from the car?

The press left the polling
station with Putin.

Only one French journalist remained

to interview the former President
of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev,

who came with his daughter
and granddaughters,

to cast his ballot.

May I ask for whom you will vote?

Let's wait and see...

Gorbachev abstained from responding.

Greetings!

However, having cast his vote,
he did not deny himself the pleasure

of having a drink with
his former colleagues.

Am I not taking anyone else's place?
- Sit down, sit down!

Here's to you! Cheers!
- Thanks!

I just wanted to say that I am proud

that at the Congress
I was the first to speak

and say that the President of USSR
should be elected immediately

and there should be only one candidate.

We do remember!

They tried to persuade me,
"You should agree for two or three years."

And I said I won't.

Mikhail Sergeyevich, you could have agreed
to become the President for 15 years!

By the year of 2000!
- Why not?

Why then? Then this post
should not have been introduced.

I would still be General Secretary,
living in clover.

That is a shameless attitude.

Just like Napoleon!

Elected First Consul
for four years at first,

then First Consul for lifetime...

And off to the Island of Saint Helena
for lifetime!

Should I sit here?
- Well, yes.

Meanwhile, Boris Yeltsin,
surrounded by his family

was waiting for the first election results.

Are you fine?
- Yeah, perfect. -Sit down.

My daily routine will certainly change.

It has already.

Because that constant pressure is gone.

All of Russia on your shoulders...
Every hour,

every day...

Problems are pressing,
something has happened here and there,

decisions have to be taken, thousands
of papers have to be signed daily.

Thousands!

Thousands!
- A constant pile lying there.

Hell of a job.

But now it's not pressing anymore.
There's just the routine work left.

Now the burden lies with
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

It is his duty now.

I gave him a six-month head start

on purpose, so that he could...

So that after being elected

he could already make use of the experience

he had gained as Acting President.

That is, the head of the state.

That was the importance of my decision

taken on 31 December 1999.

They're still reproaching you,
talking about a protégé or something.

When you acted so decently,

addressing the people and telling them,
"Look at him!"

so that people could evaluate his work.

It was all done
so democratically and honestly.

His rating rose from two to fifty per cent.

You know it.

All due to his work,

since he did not have
any special electioneering advertising,

he did not have any TV spots.

He does business!

He goes to the regions,
deals with problems.

He goes to Ivanovo - he deals with
problems in the textile industry.

He goes to Kuzbas -
he deals with the miners' problems.

He goes to Kamchatka or Sakhalin -

he deals with the problems of Far East.

Was it easy to take
your 31 December decision?

No, it was hard.

But strange as it is,
after that I felt better.

Things I said to my folks...

explained to the executives
and the presidential administration,

then to Vladimir Vladimirovich...
I explained it to him four times...

We had meetings.

Eventually he understood that the idea was

to transfer the power to him...

as Acting President of Russia.

Did you have to persuade him?

He did not agree immediately.

For the first time,
we just got acquainted...

Little Vanya!

Little Vanya, come here!

Exit poll summary for 7 PM.

Putin - 51.2%,
Zyuganov - 28.4%.

Yavlinsky - 5.6%.

Moscow: Putin - 44%.

It's not clear yet.

These are the exit poll results.
- I know.

People upon exit from the polling station.
8,000 people!

It's unprecedented in Russia!

8,000 people interviewed upon the exit.
There's no point in lying.

The chance of an error is minor. It was
tested during the Parliament election.

Say good night.
- Vanya, bye-bye!

Vanya, going to bed so early?
- We didn't sleep during the day.

We went to vote.
- Did you? Right, it's a serious business.

I won't!
- You won't go to bed?

No!
- Why?

Fine! Stay with us.

Would you like to stay with us?

Vanya, sit with Grandpa.
- Come to Grandma.

Don't put fingers in your mouth.

Vanya, your cheeks are just like apples!

So, who do you have to vote for, Vanya?

Tell Grandpa who you voted for.

For Putin.

For Putin!

At last he said it aloud, for Putin!

Lena, how is he calling Putin?

He pronounces it so funnily.
- Vanya, how do you call Putin?

Again!
- Say it aloud!

He says, Vladimir Vladimirovich!

Need a translator?
- Do you need a translator?

Do you know why he likes him?
He likes his daughters!

Would you like this candy?

You didn't have tea.
- They will.

ORT Channel 2000. Vote results live.

Election of the President of Russia -
the most accurate and timely information.

Live reports from "Election 2000"
press centre.

Interviews with candidates for presidency
and heads of campaign offices.

Expert commentaries on votes counting
from the virtual studio.

Only on our channel.
- Preliminary voting results....

current voting results for
President of the Russian Federation.

Though I don't remember any mention
of Putin's campaign office in press,

it was the biggest headquarters with
all the higher state officials engaged.

Let's see what's happening in Moscow.

Moscow - 46.71%. Like it was before.
- Son of a bitch!

We'll bear it in mind.

St. Petersburg is fine.
- And how many votes has Grisha got?

Yavlinsky... 18.54%.
- That's an outrage!

Formally the campaign office
was run by Dmitri Medvedev,

the former subordinate of Putin
from St. Petersburg period

who was little known at the time.

Hello?

Hello? Damn! Talk to me.

Your lift doesn't work.

There's also Koryak Okrug in Far East...
- All the reindeers have voted there.

In fact, the campaign managers
were experienced political technologists

making use of the basis
of administrative resources

provided by the former
and future federal ministers,

heads of the presidential administration,
leaders of media and sociological services.

Where's the public opinion?

Sasha! Tell the prognosis!

51%! - So what?
Your data is good for nothing!

This is Anatoly Chubais,
Co-chairman of the Union of Right Forces.

The right-wing democrats were in fact the
only non-governmental parliamentary party

that supported Putin in the election.

When he became the head of the state,

our election for the first time
ceased to be a profanation

and actually became a representation
of the nation's will.

It is Mikhail Gorbachev.
Hello, Mikhail Sergeevich!

Good evening!

Mikhail Sergeevich, the question is,

how did you spend this day?

Well, today...

Guys, turn off the camera!

For Yeltsin this meeting with Gorbachev
was unexpected,

probably the first after 1991.

Yeltsin practically ousted
the President of the USSR

and knew perfectly well
what happens to ousted leaders in Russia.

For all the years of Yeltsin's Presidency,

Ex-President Gorbachev
disappeared even from TV screens.

Perhaps this is why Yeltsin himself

thought seriously and in advance
about a successor.

I'm sick of it! How long are we going
to listen to him?

Mum! The election results are coming up!

They won't announce it now,
they may do it only at nine!

Mum, sit down.

The results are coming up.

I have data which I have decided
to share with our viewers

and I will do it in a short while.

What else is known, except that
Putin is walking along the corridor?

Putin walking along the corridor...
Just like in the film about Stirlitz.

What corridor?

Gleb, are your people working here?

What about Ksenia's team?
- They went to the stations this morning...

Maybe you could just go
with Vladimir Vladimirovich...

Press service ready...

Hello, Gleb?

Good evening. Tatyana Dyachenko calling.

How many have already voted? 60 per cent?

Moscow has let us down.

So, can we already drink champagne?

Taking very small sips...

Alright, Gleb, very small sips.

I'll tell Gena to get the champagne.
Thanks!

During the last years
of Boris Yeltsin's presidency,

when his health caused a lot of issues

the concept of "family" was established
in the public consciousness.

The success in state administration
was attributed to family.

Tatyana played an important role
in this process.

Tanya, can you live without politics?
Or not anymore?

Me? Sure, I can!

Easy!

I don't believe you.
- I'm certainly worried...

Therefore I have every right

to acquaint you with the figures
at the moment.

Vladimir Putin - 51.2%.

Gennady Zyuganov - 28.4%.

We can see that the data
are slightly diverging...

Dad, are you happy?
- This is my win.

It's your win.
- My win.

Grigory Yavlinsky - 7 per cent.

Now it is safe to say
that the election has been effectuated.

It is also safe to say...

Now we can start drinking champagne
taking very small sips.

Pour a glass of champagne.
- Right away.

It was obvious that
without Tatyana's participation

the successor issue
could not have been be effectuated.

Very small sips...

There are four of you?
- No, there are many of us.

There are many of us...
Vitaly, stop filming.

God! Is this all over, really?

I can't believe it.

Therefore, it was also her victory.

Let's pour some.
- In small sips...

Now it's over. We have won.

Really?
- We have won. Hooray!

The election has been effectuated
in the first round. - As we were hoping.

Though we'd have won anyway.

All the same, first round or second.

Here you are!

Lena, we have won!

Standing and to the bottom!

I can bet - it will be this way!

I've already made a bet with you.

Dad, see? That's why you did
what you thought you had to.

You appointed a person
and let one see if he fits for the job.

They saw that he fits and voted for him.

He wouldn't appoint a bad person.
He chose among so many!

Right! I picked out from 20 candidates
within four months.

Would you disclose the list?

I stopped at him.
Well, 20 candidates... No need to!

I stopped at him
and started working with him.

Dad, the figures at the moment!
It's 51.2 per cent!

Gennady Zyuganov - 28.4%

And this is just the GDP index.

I would like to have Mikhail Gorbachev
join to our chat as soon as possible.

Oh God!

Do you hear us?
- Mikhail Sergeevich, again!

Your opinion, please?
- Why such a sad face?

Why such a sad face?

Dad, let us change the channel to NTV.
- Fine.

Cheers... to the election!

Dad, I'm putting you through
to Valentin Yumashev.

You're not familiar with this model yet.

It's like this.
- Like this?

Hello? I'm not familiar
with this model yet.

It is curious that after Putin's victory

Valentin Yumashev was the first person
whom Yeltsin spoke to over the phone.

What win?

Are you sure? Congratulations!

It's great! It's great!

Thanks. Thanks.

I owe you one.

And, as far as one can understand,

Yeltsin thanks for something
the former head of his administration.

That's it, Mum, our Dad's finally free.

Main thing, in the first round.

Congratulations to you, too.

What if you called Vladimir Vladimirovich?

What if you called Vladimir Vladimirovich?
- I'll call him.

Let me do it.

It's great!

Misha, step aside.
- Good evening.

Congratulations
on the first results of the elections!

I'd like to talk
to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

Alright. I'll put down the receiver.

Everything will be great.

They'll call back.

He must be back.
He said he'd go to the campaign office.

He must have returned.

When he voted earlier today
he said he'd go to the office at night.

Then he will...

Moscow - 44%...

have voted for Putin.

I said we had to gather
Muscovites together.

To gather them...

Five per cent of Muscovites are covered,

If there was a meeting
with questions and answers in a big hall...

Turn off that commercial!

Change it to Channel 2!
- It is Channel 2.

Turn off the volume. Hello?

Alright, fine.

He has just left.
They'll tell him and he'll call back.

No, it's not clear yet.
- But it is!

How's that? - It is clear.
Vladimir Vladimirovich has won.

Looking ahead, I'll reveal to you
that while we were there

Boris Yeltsin did not receive
Putin's return call.

That's it. An hour and a half has passed.

He's hanging out.
- Hanging out... He's bossing about.

Maybe they just said he's hanging out.
What if he's sitting in the bath or...

Sure, he is!
- He has to get dressed...

He has to take a bath, get dressed...
- Get dressed at least...

Take a shower...

Let's not wait, let's say goodbye.
- Let's do that.

Okay. Thank you once again.
- Yes.

No, thanks to you.
Boris Nikolaevich, thanks a lot.

For free elections,
for the freedom of Russia!

For the freedom of the media!

If Putin wins,

the freedom of the media
will be ensured by all means.

Let's hope.
- Thank you, Boris Nikolaevich.

People are really curious.
- They've all gathered here...

We will provide the freedom of media.
- Thanks.

For nobody has yet appreciated
that there is freedom in the country.

No, you are not right.
We do appreciate it. Thank you!

Thank you. Take care!
- Goodbye!

By night, in Putin's campaign office

all the key figures
of the campaign had gathered.

It’s important to introduce them to you:

Mikhail Lesin, Russia's Minister of Press

and the owner of the country's
largest advertising agency.

His ministry supervised,
directly and indirectly,

all the TV channels in Russia,

the main media instrument
of the current government.

Gleb Pavlovsky,
the former Soviet dissident,

the chief political adviser
of the Kremlin in the 2000s.

On the twelfth year of Putin's rule,
he went into political opposition.

Ksenia Ponomaryova, the former head
of Channel One Russia,

deputy head of the campaign office.

Shortly after the election of Putin
she went into the opposition.

In 2016, she died at the age of 54.

Mikhail Kasyanov, Prime Minister of Russia
during the first term of Putin.

Later went into the opposition.

He was persecuted and publicly humiliated

after a TV show screened a hidden shooting
of his intimate life.

Vladislav Surkov.

Having taken high positions
from 2000 to 2013,

was the main ideologist of the Kremlin.

He was significantly demoted.
After Putin's return for the third term.

Valentin Yumashev.

The former head of Yeltsin administration.

He was the first who Yeltsin spoke to
after the election results were announced.

In 2002,

Yumashev registered his marriage
with Yeltsin's daughter Tatyana.

Anatoly Chubais.

One of the developers
of economic reforms in Russia.

Leader of the parliamentary
democratic right faction.

An associate of Boris Nemtsov.

At the end of the first Putin's term,

the democrats have never again
entered the Russian parliament

and went into opposition.

How do you assess
the preliminary results of the election?

I believe that the experts
who forecast the results...

with all due respect...

they seem to hit the target.

Never in my worst nightmares
could I have thought that I'd...

Don't laugh, I'm serious.

I could have never thought
that I'd participate in the election

because this seems to me
absolutely unscrupulous.

Or, seemed so far.

Because you always
have to promise something.

And you have to promise as much...

At least, you have to promise more
than your rivals do.

I have to say that...

the way the electioneering went...

and the way I managed to organize it...

relieved me of the need

to mislead vast masses of the population.

They say that...

I've made use in my electioneering

of the present situation in Chechnya.

I do not want to monopolize this topic.

But I know what I did.

I do not want to belittle my role,

I am rather trying
to evaluate it adequately.

I know, if there was no consolidation
of the entire Russian society,

there would be not be that situation,
which we are facing in the Caucasus.

This is an issue...
I'm ready to speak my mind...

It benefits me in a way.

I believe... I want to repeat it.

I do not think I am entitled
to monopolize this issue.

I do not think I have the right

to take any personal
or unilateral decisions.

Everyone invited to work
in executive bodies of state authority

must share the same opinion.

They must strive for a common goal.

I do believe there is only one option -

to be honest.

This press conference was great!

These were some words!
One should take down.

One should take them down.
Congratulations.

Well? Now we should...
- We should have a drink.

Have a drink and off to bed!
- We should have a drink.

Who serves it?
- They're on their way.

So, who'll serve us a drink?

We can serve ourselves.

There's a meeting tomorrow at 10...

I belong to the nation.
I have to support my folks.

Who do you belong to?
- The nation.

What is that thing?

What do you mean, the nation?

The nation are us, the electorate.

Unfortunately, not all of us can gather.

There are people sitting up and downstairs.

There's no table like this there,
they're sitting at their PCs.

But the enthusiasm is really apparent.

And I'll ask Dmitry Anatolyevich
to thank everybody once again.

The same goes for everyone
who has gathered here

because I know that...

we used to scold you from time to time

but, in fact, everything...

was so psychologically grounded
and organized so justly

that gave an actual result.

Everything that appeared on TV
and on the street billboards,

everything was developed
step by step, little by little,

with a view to the result
we're currently approaching.

Therefore, I want to thank you all
and congratulate you.

This is your success.

"Hooray" already sounded husky.

Because you're tired. Making an effort.

Now a second wind will come.

Thank you and see you tomorrow.

Cheers!

It is quite natural
that the TV set in the campaign office

broadcasted the NTV Channel.

Just a year later
the favourite channel of the state

would be disbanded and nationalized.

Give it to me, Tatyana Borisovna!

I thank you... for the latest news.

It seems we have linked
with the studio of Nizhny Novgorod.

Boris Efimovich, do you hear us now?

Yes, I do!
- Good night, Boris Efimovich!

Even now, looking through the footage,

against the background of the joyful hubbub
in the winner's campaign office,

I can hear the voice of Boris Nemtsov
burst out from the TV.

Today I turn up the volume.

In order to either support
or not support Putin.

Remind me, what was your
actual attitude towards Putin like?

First, I belong to the
Union of Right Forces.

The Union of Right Forces took a decision -
not a simple one - to support Putin,

though me and Irina Khakamada,
we abstained from voting.

Second, I believed before, as I do now

that two rounds of election
would have benefitted the state.

Between the first and the second round
the favourite of the race

could have in the first place
made commitments to the nation

and we would not find ourselves
in the present state of uncertainty.

We know nothing
about the economic policy of Putin.

He never intended to go public with it.

Apparently it will appear
only after the inauguration,

which means that for the economy of the
state and for citizens of the state,

the situation is full of uncertainty.

That is, we voted with our hearts,

without knowing
what would happen to us tomorrow.

Tomorrow extended for many years.

In the autumn of 2015,

the body of millionaire Lesin
with head injuries

will be found in a modest hotel
in Washington, DC.

The pen goes to the girl as a keepsake.

But in the winter of the same year

Boris Nemtsov, who had
joined the opposition to Putin,

will be shot
right by the walls of the Kremlin.

Strangely, the majority of the ones
who made efforts for Putin's triumph

and were shoulder to shoulder with him
at the moment of his election,

today have either gone into opposition

or were dismissed as Alexander Voloshin, the
head of the presidential administration,

or even his wife Lyudmila
whom he divorced.

The only person remaining with him,
at least for now,

is Dmitry Medvedyev.

He was the one who became
the President of Russia

between Putin's second and third term.

Vladimir Putin came into power
as a red-hot knife in butter.

And the state lurked

in submissive readiness
to follow its new leader.

The state had not yet heard
of the concept of power vertical,

but subjugation of each and all,
from the Parliament to business,

to one single command centre
was going into high gear.

Even Khodorkovsky wasn’t imprisoned yet

and NTV still dared
to criticize the President

as, for example, during the accident
on the submarine "Kursk".

But it was already becoming quite clear

that it is better
not to argue with the President.

The ghost of the past
appeared again and again,

trying to make up for
what was lost in the present.

And soon, the President of Russia
Vladimir Putin

will call the collapse of the Soviet Empire

the largest geopolitical tragedy
of the 20th century.

Meanwhile, I went on shooting my film,
which was now about the elected President,

followed by a film about
the Kremlin life.

It seemed that nothing changed radically
during the first year of Putin's presidency.

The only changes were
in details and nuances,

having no significance at the first glance.

For example, the President
signed a federal law

to return the army
its banner of victory over fascism.

Well, what banner could they hoist
above the Reichstag in 1945?

Of course, the red Soviet flag
with the star, the sickle and the hammer.

And despite the fact that the tricolour
was still the national flag,

the Presidential Kremlin Regiment

swore allegiance to the red flag
of our Soviet homeland.

We remember
with a sense of accomplishment

the time when young recruits joined
the ranks of the Presidential Regiment.

Naturally, with the new President
a new inner circle appeared in the Kremlin.

Igor Sechin, the administration official,
who knew Putin from St. Petersburg,

became one of the main
figures of this circle.

It was Sechin who was credited
with the major role

in submitting business
to the will of the President,

and the imprisonment of
Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The gigantic battle at Kursk
changed the balance of forces in Europe.

They could not ward off
the Anglo-Americans invasion

with their own forces.

Every soldier and every officer
who deserts the army must be shot!

Clemenceau in 1917 ordered every tenth soldier
out of any rebelling unit to be shot.

But you cannot shoot everyone, my Führer!

Duce, to fulfill our mission,
you must stand above human suffering!

As a result of my work
an official film appeared,

aired on the Russian State TV on the
1st anniversary of Putin's presidency.

At that time it was shown
in many countries of the world.

Even today I'm not ashamed of it.

Moreover, the film seems to have matured

and discloses much of
what was left unnoticed before.

However, I am still being asked
if anything was left behind the scenes.

It was.
For example, this.

You've turned on your camera again.
- Sure, I have.

So, I'd like to tell...

As regards the way people live...
Recently I was in Lensk...

and some woman...

not elderly yet...
but also not young...

She said, "Give us back our old life.
The way it was 20 years ago."

What'd you tell her?
It is impossible to get back anything.

You cannot get back
either your youth or bygone days.

Moreover, if we try to return to the past,
we will definitely destroy everything.

But to make sure that people
weren’t doing worse than before

but better -
this is something we can do.

This is such a candid conversation -
I cannot help but ask.

Why did you restore the Soviet anthem?

This is connected with
what I told you before.

It is necessary to restore the citizens'
confidence in the Establishment.

That woman in Lensk who said
we had to give her back the former life

the way it had been twenty years ago...

People should feel
that they are not deprived of everything.

And if...

She has to grow old but we have to live.

We do have to live, that's right.

But why do you think we have to live
with that music rather than with this?

Why can't we, listening to the anthem
written by Alexandrov,

think about the victory in WWII
rather than the Gulag?

Why should we necessarily
associate this music

with the worst aspects of life
during the Soviet period?

In that conversation about the anthem,
I tried to find out from Putin

why the state should at all
return to the past,

which in the contemporary Russia has not
yet received its historical evaluation.

I told you it would hardly be possible
to restore things...

But it was really important to sense...

that the majority of the population
has a certain nostalgia...

You must not deprive people of everything.

This is the moral aspect.

This is what I think about
when I remember my parents.

This is a part of their life.

Should we dump it all
in the scrap heap of history?

As if they hadn't lived at all?

It would be very cruel towards our parents.

At least for that reason!

This is a good version -
with church bells! Right?

Plus, a troubled trumpet...

And you have to hold out till the end.

So that it stands out against
the orchestra. It'd be great!

Yes, very well.

I told you - the back should straighten up.

Even for the lay in music.

The orchestra under supervision
of the film director Nikita Mikhalkov

and his father, the lyricist
of two Soviet anthems,

was working hard to record the former
Soviet and present Russian anthem

in the new, third edition, by Mikhalkov Sr.

"So it was, so it is..."
- We're ready.

"So it was, so it is,
and so it always will be!"

It should go fluently.

The choir! Would you stand up, please?

At least the first verse!

Let's start from the beginning.
Once again!

You know...
There was a quite a rush with the lyrics.

They pestered me with the lyrics...

One version, another version...

For Stalin the anthem was recorded

performed on the bells
of the Dormition Cathedral.

Completely!
When did we record it?

A hundred years ago.
- Why a hundred?

When did you change Stalin for Lenin?

Which year was it?
- It was in the 1970s...

1960s?
- 1970s...

I think the church bells
should give the feel

that distinguishes the Russian anthem
from any other in the world.

Be glorious, our country!

We are proud of you!

Be glorious, our country!
A pause!

We are proud of...
There was no accent in the recitative!

An unexpected morning call from the Kremlin
made me return to the President's office.

Hello! It's you again with your pussycam.

Be careful, the camera is on.

I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk.

Strictly speaking,

I thought I could take the liberty
to talk about it.

I do not know your goals and I won't
interfere in the creative process.

You'll make it the way you see fit.

I'm not trying to impose anything on you.

I just want to state my point of view

and you'll decide if you use it or not.

As to our conversation about the anthem...

Why have we returned
to the old melody by Alexandrov?

Many don't understand that. Unfortunately.

And it's strange
that there is such a misunderstanding.

I do not know how I managed
to convey this yesterday,

in the conditions
of a more or less formal conversation.

Let's say, the restoration of the anthem
with the Soviet melody...

gives additional bonuses
to a person involved in politics

from the point of view of
increasing the rating...

or increasing public confidence.

This is necessary
in order to achieve something.

Relying on this trust of the population.

Although, you can argue
about the ways in which to make it happen

and choose the best option.

How do you imagine
a dispute with the authorities?

A dispute with the President?
- Very simple!

There are instruments of democracy.

Very many people have signed
against the anthem,

being the conscience of the nation.

This conscience does not...

feel for the tragedy
that the people are going through!

It was signed by people who do feel for
and who voted for you!

You do understand, whenever
I have to take certain decisions

some people will always think
that these actions are wrong.

Including the ones who voted for me.

I believe I have to explain to all,
absolutely all

the motives of my acts.

And I must act as I deem necessary.

So, you are not afraid of
losing some of that trust,

by taking tough decisions?

In my opinion, it is obvious

that decisions should be taken
in the interests of the state,

regardless of whether they cause
a positive or a negative reaction.

One must understand that.

One can agree or disagree
but one must understand that.

If you think about it.

See, you're already hesitating!
- No, I'm not.

Do you want me to say that I am hesitating?
- No, I don't.

But this is the issue
that could have been...

that could have been put off for now.

Like the issue with Lenin
in the Mausoleum.

The issue of the Labour Code
could have also been put off.

No, it couldn't have!
- It is your opinion!

But others think that the land issue
could have been put off.

There's no need
to introduce a new Land Code.

There are such people!

Do you think they are less than those
who don't want to have the old anthem back?

Politics is the art of possibility,
the art of possible compromises, isn't it?

Yes, it is, although...

This is a good phrase
that you can use whenever...

whenever you need to fill a pause.

But you said it was a compromise.

Yes, it is a compromise
to a certain extent.

But it's still...

It certainly appears like a compromise.

Nevertheless, these are
meaningful actions to achieve...

to achieve this state in which...
relying on which...

you can solve substantive tasks

in reconstruction of the state
and modernization of the economy.

I cannot disagree with this argument.

You see? We are already
bringing together our positions!

I cannot disagree only with this argument.

We are bringing together our positions.

And you say - impossible to persuade you.

I don't know why Putin needed
to persuade me of his decision

when it was already impossible
to restore the anthem.

Wasn't there anyone left around
to disagree with him?

Is it fine that you haven't persuaded
everyone of the correctness of this decision?

You cannot persuade everyone.
Unfortunately.

It's impossible! 140 million!

You cannot discuss things
with everyone in person!

Though it seems to me I'd be able to
if I started talking to everyone in person.

Only it's impossible!

No offence,

but I'm not going to share your opinion
as regards the anthem.

You should.

On 31 December 2000,

exactly a year had passed
since the resignation of Boris Yeltsin

and the appointment of Vladimir Putin
as his successor.

The most touching event of last year was

Yeltsin's appearance on 31 December.

Nobody had spoken to the Russians
like that before.

Today, on the last day
of the outgoing century...

God, it's a pity, after all!

I am resigning.

I want to ask you for forgiveness.

Before Yeltsin, nobody had taken
advantage of the occasion so skillfully.

So, on the New Year's Eve,
ten minutes before midnight,

Russian citizens are congratulated
by another person.

On 31 December 1999,

Russia’s first president decided to resign.

He has asked me to address the nation.

But this is the beginning
of a completely different story.

But this is the footage
that was already shot today.

The successor got his sea legs
quickly enough,

distancing himself more and more
from his creator.

Miracles happen on the New Year's Eve...

hair conditioner for rinsing
and for volumizing...

we will not only recall
of the most important events

of those twelve turbulent months
of 2000 in Russia

but also recount how they changed
the lives of those involved.

First of all, we'll cover this year's
most striking and even tragic moments.

During the year after his resignation

for Boris Yeltsin the notion of "family"
recovered its original meaning.

It's three minutes to midnight.

Let's drink to the outgoing year!

By the way, this is the first year
that was more or less peaceful.

There is none of this yearning
of the previous ten years left,

"Thank God that it's over!"

Dear relatives, dear friends!

Tonight...

we are ringing out the old year
and ringing in the new year.

I am sure that for this country

the upcoming year
will be better than this one.

It will be better!

And yet we're ringing in...

or rather ringing out the old year

with certain... sadness.

For it actually was...

it was hard, Little Vanya.

Little Vanya does not care yet.
- It was hard but it was there!

We bore it on our shoulders!

It is my wish

that in the bosom of our family,

among the relatives,

the unity and solidarity grew stronger.

Although, I cannot complain.

Everything is fine here,

we do not have any...

Alright, Little Vanya,
you speak and I will listen.

He is ringing out the old year.

In a word...

Happy New Year's Eve!
Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy upcoming year!
- Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Wherever you look...
It's always him. - ...mediocrity/

Did they restore the anthem
without your knowledge?

Even the new lyrics did not save it?

It's reddish!

This word, "reddish," in particular,

having absorbed all the bitterness
of the reanimation of the Soviet past,

became for me a sign of farewells.

Yeltsin died on the seventh year
of Vladimir Putin's presidency.

Does the President have a say
over many things in this country?

Sure, the head of the state
has a say over many things in this state.

Certain functions of the President
are established by the law.

They are very comprehensive

and presidential powers
might become determinant

in order to perform
these functions correctly.

As a rule,
as to things I have been planning,

I have basically managed to meet
the goals that I had set for myself.

What is your attitude toward
all-embracing unity of the nation

under the guidance of the wise, visionary

and just Vladimir Putin?

I can sense a slight
irony in your question.

Everything we used to call extremities,

in this sense, certainly do not help
but rather cause harm.

Therefore, any busts, monuments
and other elements of autocracy,

which have migrated to our time
from the past,

cannot please
but are very difficult to fight against.

Shall we go?
- Yes.

I admit, despite the fact

that this was only
the first year of Putin's rule,

all my questions were already bringing
on the issue of succession of power,

imperial ambitions, and autocracy.

Although, formally
there was no special reason for this.

And if you listened and believed
in what Putin said then,

there should have been no worry whatsoever
about the future of Russia.

Getting out of the car
and buying a mug of beer,

as you probably can guess,
is quite difficult.

Because you're always on the move
with a lot of people around you.

So, there is a problem with the traffic.

If I get out of the car
and start drinking beer,

thousands or hundreds
will wait for the motorcade to pass

and nothing good will come of it.

This is just the simplest example
of everything.

But would you like that?

Yes, I would.
I do believe that the day will come

when I'll be able
to return to a normal life.

I do believe that someday
I'll have a future as a private citizen,

that I'll be engaged in some other activity
and will live the life of a normal person.

Well, these are wonderful words.

They foster... certain optimism...

That's right, it's...

I do not sense any irony in what you say.

And I'll tell you why.
It is very important.

With this, by the way,
we are returning to your question

if stepping in the shoes of a monarch
would not be better.

First of all, the life of a monarch
is quite complicated.

I have met monarchs quite often
during the recent year

in various parts of the world,

during official visits.

And I can say that their fate
does not inspire me.

At least I would not like
to repeat anything like that.

Their life is hard;
it is full of restrictions.

People do not belong to themselves;
and that is their destiny.

And that is forever.

In this respect...

the life of an elected
head of the state is better

since it gives a chance

to prove yourself in the greatest deed,
in service to the Motherland,

with the maximum effort.

But at the same time, it provides
an opportunity of living a normal life

after having performed your official
duties, after the end of your term.

Though, you are always being reminded
that your term will end one day

and you will have to, first of all,
live a life of a normal person

and, as they used to say some time ago,

the way that you wouldn't be ashamed
for the years you had lived.

And so that you were able,
in your new position,

to address people boldly.

Without casting down your eyes.

And one more thing is very important.

It is necessary to understand
that you will live as a normal citizen

and everything you do
with the state and the society today

you will have to face in a few years
as an ordinary citizen.

It is a good thing to remember

before taking a decision.

Rather than yielding to
monarchical ambitions

when taking a decision.

Perhaps I'll put the camera down
and say it behind the scenes.

If you do exactly as you are saying now,

this will become a pledge of a worthy future
both for the country and you personally.

Right. But, as I'm telling you,
I've happened to be sitting and thinking,

racking my brain
about the way it should be,

"Wait! Think about
how your children will live,

how the children of your friends
and relatives will live,

and how you will live -
what kind of country it will be!"

This is a serious issue,

which is most probably the essence
of the advantages provided by democracy.

That is one of the reasons why

democracy and democracies
are more resilient and effective.

No idea what to say in this case...
Let's keep our fingers crossed?

Thumbs up.

Let's go and exercise?
- Let's go.

Oleg, we're going to the gym.

Konni! Konni, look at me!

Konni! That's it! Sit!

Behave!

Goodbye.
- Let's go. Heel!

Heel! Come on, heel!

Putin still rules in Russia.

Much has happened
during the years of his administration.

The end of the war in Chechnya and the
beginning of the Chechen wars in Moscow.

The Olympics and doping.
Crimea and the war in Ukraine.

The rising from the knees
and getting kicked out of G8.

Moreover, there was
emigration, imprisonments

and the deaths of those who tried
to speak out against Putin personally.

There was also the price I had to pay

for assuming naively
that I was just a witness.

But life proved that tacit consent

turns witnesses into accomplices.

So we all voluntarily turned out
to be hostages of the person

who was leading us
towards the glorious future,

reminiscent so much of the dark past.