Bringemovies
← Browse Movies
Putin's Witnesses
TITLE DETAILS

Putin's Witnesses

2018-11-08 · 103 min · ★ 6.3

Documentary · History

Russian Federation, December 31, 1999. After President Boris Yeltsin's unexpected resignation, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin becomes acting president of the country. From that day and for a year, Vitaly Mansky's camera documented Putin's rise to power. The story of a privileged witness. The harsh explanation of the reason why politics is the art of possibility of achieving the best with the support of many, but also of giving the worst in return.

Open detail page

Trailers are previews, not full movies.

No authorized playback source configured. Use the legal watch options below.

Production details

Directors
Vitaly Mansky
Production companies
Vertov, GoldenEggProduction, Hypermarket Film, ZDF, RTS, SRG SSR, Česká televize, ARTE, Latvijas Televizija
Countries
Czech Republic, Germany, Latvia, Switzerland
Status
Released

Top Cast

Vitaly ManskyVitaly ManskySelf - Narrator (voice) / (archive footage)
Boris NemtsovBoris NemtsovSelf - Politician (voice)
Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Boris YeltsinBoris YeltsinSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Mikhail GorbachevMikhail GorbachevSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Naina YeltsinaNaina YeltsinaSelf - Yeltsin's Wife (archive footage)
Tatyana YumashevaTatyana YumashevaSelf - Yeltsin's Daughter / Politician (archive footage)
Vera Dmitrievna GurevichSelf - Putin's Teacher (archive footage)
Anatoly ChubaisAnatoly ChubaisSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Dmitry MedvedevDmitry MedvedevSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Elena OkulovaSelf - Yeltsin's Daughter (archive footage)
Gleb PavlovskyGleb PavlovskySelf - Politician (archive footage)
Ivan OkulovSelf - Yeltsin's Grandson (archive footage)
Ksenia PonomaryovaSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Lyudmila PutinaSelf - Putin's Wife (archive footage)
Mikhail KasyanovMikhail KasyanovSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Mikhail LesinSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Nikita MikhalkovNikita MikhalkovSelf - Director (archive footage)
Tony BlairTony BlairSelf - Politician (archive footage)
Valentin YumashevValentin YumashevSelf - Politician (archive footage)

Title information and images are supplied by TMDb. Explore our discovery guide for advice on comparing metadata and legal viewing options.

Where to watch

Availability provided by JustWatch via TMDb. Offers can change. Provider links are listed on TMDb; full playback requires a separately authorized source.

Streaming

MUBI, OVID, MUBI Amazon Channel

Rental

Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

Purchase

Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

Free

Hoopla

View authorized watch options on TMDb

Recommendations

The War Room
★ 6.8
The War Room1993Documentary · History

A behind-the-scenes documentary about the Clinton for President campaign, focusing on the adventures of spin doctors James Carville and George Stephanopoulos.

Cover-Up
★ 7.2
Cover-Up2025Documentary · History

He's devoted his career to uncovering stories the powerful want buried. From My Lai to Abu Ghraib, dig into the life's work of journalist Seymour Hersh.

Visions of Light
★ 7.0
Visions of Light1992Documentary · History

Cameramen and women discuss the craft and art of cinematography and of the "DP" (the director of photography), illustrating their points with clips from 100 films, from Birth of a Nation to Do the Right Thing. Themes: the DP tells people where to look; changes in movies (the arrival of sound, color, and wide screens) required creative responses from DPs; and, these artisans constantly invent new equipment and try new things, with wonderful results. The narration takes us through the identifiable studio styles of the 30s, the emergence of noir, the New York look, and the impact of Europeans. Citizen Kane, The Conformist, and Gordon Willis get special attention.

Red Army
★ 7.4
Red Army2015Documentary · History

A documentary highlighting the Soviet Union's legendary and enigmatic hockey training culture and world-dominating team through the eyes of the team's Captain Slava Fetisov, following his shift from hockey star and celebrated national hero to political enemy.

Orwell: 2+2=5
★ 7.3
Orwell: 2+2=52025Documentary

George Orwell was one of the most visionary authors of the 20th century, whose novels 1984 and Animal Farm foretold a chilling, authoritarian future. Acclaimed director Raoul Peck interweaves clips, readings from Orwell's diary, cinematic references, and modern-day footage to craft not only a portrait of the writer, but a fresh take on how prophetic his work has become.

HyperNormalisation
★ 7.5
HyperNormalisation2016Documentary

We live in a world where the powerful deceive us. We know they lie. They know we know they lie. They do not care. We say we care, but we do nothing, and nothing ever changes. It is normal. Welcome to the post-truth world. How we got to where we are now…

Meeting Gorbachev
★ 6.6
Meeting Gorbachev2019Documentary

Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, sits down with filmmaker Werner Herzog to discuss his many achievements. Topics include the talks to reduce nuclear weapons, the reunification of Germany and the dissolution of his country.

Fuck
★ 6.4
Fuck2006Documentary

A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.

The Director and the Jedi
★ 7.4
The Director and the Jedi2018Documentary

An intimate documentary delving into Rian Johnson's process as he comes in as a director new to the Star Wars universe.

The Curse of the Dragon
★ 7.2
The Curse of the Dragon1993Documentary

A 1993 documentary film about Bruce Lee. The film includes interviews from some of his fellow students and opponents who worked alongside him in his movies.

As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
★ 7.8
As I Was Moving Ahead Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty2000Documentary

A compilation of over 30 years of private home movie footage shot by Lithuanian-American avant-garde director Jonas Mekas, assembled by Mekas "purely by chance", without concern for chronological order.

The Skywalker Legacy
★ 7.9
The Skywalker Legacy2020Documentary

The story lives forever in this feature-length documentary that charts the making of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

The Class of ‘92
★ 7.1
The Class of ‘922013Documentary

A detailing of the rise to prominence and global sporting superstardom of six supremely talented young Manchester United football players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Phil and Gary Neville). The film covers the period 1992-1999, culminating in Manchester United's European Cup triumph.

Love, Antosha
★ 7.4
Love, Antosha2019Documentary

From a prolific career in film and television, Anton Yelchin left an indelible legacy as an actor. Through his journals and other writings, his photography, the original music he wrote, and interviews with his family, friends, and colleagues, this film looks not just at Anton's impressive career, but at a broader portrait of the man.

The Godfather Family: A Look Inside
★ 7.8
The Godfather Family: A Look Inside1990Documentary

A documentary on the making of the three Godfather films, with interviews and recollections from the film makers and cast. This feature also includes the original screen tests of some of the actors for "The Godfather" film, and some candid moments on the set of "The Godfather: Part III."

Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound
★ 6.9
Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound2019Documentary · History

The history of cinematic sound, told by legendary sound designers and visionary filmmakers.

42 Up
★ 7.6
42 Up1999Documentary

Director Michael Apted revisits the same group of British-born adults after a 7 year wait. The subjects are interviewed as to the changes that have occurred in their lives during the last seven years.

My Mom Jayne
★ 8.0
My Mom Jayne2025Documentary

Through deeply personal interviews with her siblings and an examination of the photographs, letters, and belongings left behind, Mariska assembles a new portrait of her mother Jayne Mansfield, an extraordinary and complex woman.

Naqoyqatsi
★ 6.2
Naqoyqatsi2002Documentary

A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
★ 6.5
Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies2020Documentary

The definitive documentary on the history of nudity in feature films from the early silent days to the present, studying the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films while emphasizing the political, sociological and artistic changes that shaped that history. Skin will also study the gender inequality in presenting nude images in motion pictures and will follow the revolution that has created nude gender equality in feature films today.

Similar titles

Chernobyl 30 Years On: Nuclear Heritage
★ 7.5
Chernobyl 30 Years On: Nuclear Heritage2015Documentary · History

Thirty years after the Chernobyl disaster, which occurred on the night of April 26, 1986, its causes and consequences are examined. In addition, a report on efforts to strengthen the structures covering the core of the nuclear plant in order to better protect the population and the environment is offered.

Stop the Movie (Cruising)
Not rated
Stop the Movie (Cruising)1980Documentary

A short film documenting street protests against the filming of William Friedkin's Cruising (1980)

France 2100, le pourquoi du comment
★ 7.8
France 2100, le pourquoi du comment2026Documentary

Becoming Cary Grant
★ 6.6
Becoming Cary Grant2017Documentary

For the first time one of Hollywood's greatest stars tells his own story, in his own words. From a childhood of poverty to global fame, Cary Grant, the ultimate self-made star, explores his own screen image and what it took to create it.

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
★ 6.0
A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing2016Documentary

The story of Saul Alinsky, the father of community organizing, and the rise of his Cultural Marxism in the Catholic Church and America.

The Queen
★ 6.9
The Queen2006History

The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an overt display of mourning.

House of Gucci
★ 6.6
House of Gucci2021History

When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately… murder.

The Belgian Road to Cannes
Not rated
The Belgian Road to Cannes2017Documentary

A cheerful road movie all about Belgian films at Cannes over the past 70 years. Filmmakers from the past converse with those from the present to paint the portrait of a cinema that is both diverse and free. An account of Belgium’s participation in the greatest film festival in the world.

My AI Election
Not rated
My AI Election2026Documentary

A Trump supporter and election denier joins Georgia’s election board to expose fraud but, through conversations with a ChatGPT assistant and firsthand experience, he discovers the system’s surprising integrity — and realizes large-scale voter fraud is far harder than he believed.

Baldiga: Unlocked Heart
Not rated
Baldiga: Unlocked Heart2024Documentary

Using diary excerpts, photographs and memories from companions, the film paints the portrait of the artist Jürgen Baldiga who sensitively and authentically captured the West Berlin queer scene of the 1980s and early 1990s with his camera.

Boundary Breakers: The Making of Livescreamers
Not rated
Boundary Breakers: The Making of Livescreamers2024Documentary

Follow the cast and crew of Livescreamers across their five day shoot, and go deep behind the scenes of how the innovative horror film was brought to life.

Footlong
★ 7.0
Footlong2002Documentary

A documentary about the social impact of the hot dog on American Culture. Follow the crew as they travel across the country to explore the many facets of hot dog culture. 'To understand a bike, you look at the wheels. To understand a wall, you look at each brick. And to understand America, you must look at the hot dog."

Altman
★ 6.6
Altman2014Documentary

Robert Altman's life and career contained multitudes. This father of American independent cinema left an indelible mark, not merely on the evolution of his art form, but also on the western zeitgeist. With its use of rare interviews, representative film clips, archival images, and musings from his family and most recognizable collaborators, Altman is a dynamic and heartfelt mediation on an artist whose expression, passion and appetite knew few bounds.

L'énigme Céline Dion
★ 8.0
L'énigme Céline Dion2022Documentary

Bono: Stories of Surrender
★ 6.6
Bono: Stories of Surrender2025Documentary

Through words, music, and mischief, Bono pulls back the curtain on his deeply personal experiences that have shaped him as a son, father, husband, activist, and U2 frontman.

Hanging by a Thread
★ 8.0
Hanging by a Thread2025Documentary

Filmmaker Tobias Hermansen has battled depression for years, facing moments of darkness that shaped his perspective on life. Through his struggles, he discovered the power of storytelling as both an escape and a means of self-expression. Now, he channels his personal experiences into powerful, deeply emotional films that illuminate mental health and human resilience, inspiring others through storytelling.

Twiggy
★ 7.6
Twiggy2025Documentary

Twiggy takes a comprehensive look at the life story of UK model and cultural icon Twiggy, real name Lesley Lawson, whose career kickstarted in the 1960s. It features interviews with Twiggy and her husband Leigh Lawson, as well as commentary from Erin O’Connor, Paul McCartney, Lulu, Poppy Delavigne, Brooke Shields, Pattie Boyd and Zandra Rhodes.

La Historia Enterrada
Not rated
La Historia Enterrada2018Documentary

The American Question
Not rated
The American Question2024Documentary

An eight-year journey through a divided America examines the roots of political polarization and distrust, exploring how communities can rebuild trust in their neighbors, institutions and government.

Revolution of Our Times
★ 8.3
Revolution of Our Times2021Documentary

Throughout Hong Kong’s history, Hongkongers have fought for freedom and democracy but have yet to succeed. In 2019, a controversial extradition bill was introduced that would allow Hongkongers to be tried in mainland China. This decision spurred massive protests, riots, and resistance against heavy-handed Chinese rule over the City-State. Award-winning director Kiwi Chow documents the events to tell the story of the movement, with both a macro view of its historical context and footage and interviews from protestors on the front lines.

Your favorites

Recently viewed

Watch

Choose an authorized server.

Full video from an operator-configured authorized source. Official trailers use a separate player. If a server fails, retry or select another authorized server.

Legal watch options

Official trailer

Trailer preview only. Press Play to start.

Privacy choices

Favorites stay in your browser. Movie images load from TMDb. YouTube trailers contact YouTube only after you allow external media and choose a trailer. Advertising consent, if ads are enabled, is managed separately by the operator’s certified CMP.

Privacy policy

After allowing external media, choose the trailer button to load its player.