Navalny

 Navalny was, until today, the only other of this year's Oscar-nominated documentaries to be readily available for streaming. Check back next week for a review of the newly-streamable All That Breathes. In the meantime, I've got a great political documentary to tell you about.

Daniel Rohmer chronicles Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a man whom Vladimir Putin refuses to name in public. We first see him rise from a YouTube star to practically Putin's archenemy. Then, we almost see him die. In August 2020, Kremlin agents poisoned him with the nerve agent Novichok on a commercial flight from Siberia. He spent most of his hospitalization in Germany. Once he recovered, it was time to find out his would-be killers.

Navalny enlisted journalists Christo Gorzev and Maria Pevchikh for his investigation. Their detective work uncovered a den of killers, equally dangerous as they were stupid. His triumphant return to Russia led him to be arrested (again) on more-than-likely false charges (again) and he remains in prison to this day.

The film does an excellent job at introducing us to Navlany. His relationship with his wife, Yulia, and their kids, is endearing. He wins public support denouncing the authoritarian Putin and his goons. His rallies inspire citizens to denounce Putin too; no wonder Putin has to perform verbal gymnastics around him. We see footage of emergency workers coming for Navalny after his poisoning. It's quite disturbing to hear him moan in a way you'd never imagine a human could. We sympathize with Navlany as he recovers and side with him when he investigates his near murder. We also side with him when he's arrested near the end. There's no way we can believe whatever he's charged with is factual.

The film's detective plot is its most entertaining section. Navalny's quite bemused when he finds out it was Novichok - which only Putin and his goons manufacture. We see Navalny and his supporters hack their way to a list of names and numbers. Some of whom understandably hang up when Navalny identifies himself. But one of them spills the beans when Navanly uses a fake name. The grand conspiracy he lays out is so shockingly detailed for the world to hear. That call was published online. The Kremlin can deny all it wants. We're still thrilled when Navalny's accusations are vindicated.

Navalny is a strong portrait of a charismatic leader and great family man. We learn quite a bit about him in 98 minutes as he returns from death, stronger than ever. His investigation of his near murder is audacious and thrilling. But perhaps its strongest scenes are footage of others following his example in denouncing Putin. His sham arrest only strengthens his audience sympathy. Don't miss this one. It's ready to watch on HBOMax, which is where I found the subject for my next review. That new one started streaming today, too.