President Vladimir Putin rose to the current position at the beginning of the new century. A whole generation of millennials grew up under his rule. The reality he created was the only point of reference for their own personal experience. Documentary “Russia’s Millennium Children” examines how this generation thinks about its controversial leader.
“We don’t have a democracy,” said a 20-year-old. While younger generations only know about life under Putin’s authoritarian rule, many have been exposed to otherworldly influences through the internet.
A teenager lamented the insecurities and worries she felt she had inherited from previous generations. A victim of regular bullying at school, she felt smothered in her hometown and felt confined by a society dedicated to suppressing personal or non-traditional expression of opinion. We witness her opposition to Putin’s leadership tactics among Russian citizens of all ages.
Many of the film’s interviewees relished the opportunity to exercise intellectual freedom and sought to distance themselves from the prejudices they believed shaped their parents’ generation. Some people feel the pull of activism, while others seek out more traditional forms of professionalism. A protest involving one student has turned violent and another is angry about the mandatory military service that awaits him after college.
Others see Putin as a courageous force who has done much to advance Russia and maintain world order. While their classmates may resent Putin’s assertive approach, the students are driven by a palpable sense of pride and nationalism.
We learn about millennials’ school lives, their social interactions, their destined paths and their aspirations for a better future.
The filmmakers intersperse Putin’s own public speeches between statements by young people and youth. For many, the speeches were full of hollowness and false promises, creating an alluring facade designed to deceive the masses.
Millennium Children in Russia takes a thoughtful and inquiring look at evolving lives and ideas in their unique environment. Somewhere in the film, we might witness the future of the country itself.
Directed by: Irene Langemann
