Putin's Kiss Reviews

Though Masha's courage is considerable, her change of heart finally feels too nuanced for Pedersen's streamlined political-drama treatment...

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Reduces its complex portrait of contemporary Russia and its para-governmental organizations to a simple morality play.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4

Innocence was lost; so, apparently, was much of the insightful commentary.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5

While it comes across as simplistic, it's also achingly wistful about political awakenings being just a matter of talking to and finding empathy for the other side.

Full Review | Original Score: B-

Often fascinating and provocative.

Full Review | Original Score: 7.9/10

An eye opening expose' not to missed, which reveals a 'New Russia' that looks a lot like the 'Old Russia.'

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4

Documentarian Lise Birk Pedersen affords an informative and intriguing look into Russian society via the fresh face of Vladimir Putin's propaganda youth brigade NASHI ("OURS").

Full Review | Original Score: B+

There are complex machinations at work here - but there's always a sense of the surface being skimmed in favour of telling Drokova's story.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

In the end, the viewer sees that life in Russia is a complicated morass of political dogma and tough ethical choices. Not completely unlike the USA.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10

A portentous, rather creepy documentary that masks its lack of historical context with an atmosphere of accumulating threat.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5

This isn't quite the human drama Pedersen might wish, but it's compelling enough, and more important, it gives us a look at conservative Russian politics at their most ruthless and vindictive.

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Offers a sobering portrait of the world's troubled resurgent largest country, in particular of its pliable rising generation that has come up after the fall of Communism.

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What makes Putin's Kiss interesting goes beyond Masha's personal rise and fall. For starters, it offers a fresh glimpse into how Putin's Russia actually works.

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"Putin's Kiss'' is more than just the portrait of a naive young woman. It's a frightening look at Putin's warped version of democracy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

Full Review | Original Score: B-

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