Putin's Kiss

Putin’s Kiss gives a unique and rare insight into democracy “Putin-style,” told through the course of action around the 19-year old Masha, who has devoted her life and future to a career in Russian politics. Masha’s number one political icon is Vladimir Putin. So Masha has joined the Putin-friendly youth organization, Nashi, along with hundreds of thousands of other young Russians, from the age of 15. Nashi has direct ties to Kremlin and Masha has been talking to Putin himself at several occasions. She even kissed him at a youth gathering.Nashi’s official agenda is to regain Russia’s status as a superpower nation, but on the inner lines they are Putin’s most important tools to keep the political opposition from spreading their views among the Russians. In almost no time Masha has progressed to the very top of the increasingly popular organization, becoming the spokesperson of Nashi and the protégé of Russia's Minister of Youth. She belongs to the educated, well-mannered and well-spoken part of Nashi. But according to the opposition, Nashi also has a radical wing that is secretly responsible for threats and violent attacks against anyone who doesn’t agree with Putin. Masha starts questioning her role in the Nashi movement for the first time, when she starts socializing with people from the opposition. One of her new friends is the critical journalist Oleg Khasin. Masha’s new acquaintances soon get her into serious trouble with Nashi, who does not tolerate any interaction with the “enemies of Russia”. As the situation unfolds dramatically, Masha realizes that she has to make a stand.