CITIZEN K (2019)

This fine, even important, documentary on Russia (circa - 2000 - 2020): starts with the ‘Wild West’ Democracy of the early 2000s, then on to the Rise of the Oligarches and ‘Order’ (seven men holding 50% of Russia’s wealth), and finally the takeover by President Vladimir Putin, was too little seen.  (Though with NetFlix, who really knows?)  Centered on the Dostoevskian trials of possibly the biggest of the thieving Oligarches, oil mogul Mikhail Khodorkovsky, he is, at best, a deeply flawed messenger.  (But, hey, it’s Russia, you take what you can.)  It begins with President Boris Yeltsin, an unraveling comic tragedy, running for reelection against regrouped Communists, bringing in former Berlin KGB man Vladimir Putin as aide/heir apparent.  (Putin looking, if possible, even more like a rodent than he does now.  He might be auditioning for 007 super-villain.)  But with the government out of cash, and no one getting paid or pensioned, a backroom deal borrows funds from those seven super-rich oligarches who quickly buy up bankrupt Russian industry & utilities, pennies on the dollar.  (Kopeks on the Ruble?)  Including Mikhail Khodorkovsky.  But Putin tightens his political noose till the oligarches take the money and run . . . mostly to London.  Only Khodorkovsky stays.  Going into politics as a Democracy pushing opponent, earning jail time and, apparently, a conscience.  Told via news clips and fresh interviews with many a likely suspect and muckraking reporter, the story unexpectedly easy to follow thanks to clear narrative organizing (and generous on screen title cards) by writer/director Alex Gibney and editor Michael J. Palmer.  More timely than ever.

SCREWY THOUGHT OF THE DAY:  Of course, the question the film can’t answer, is why Russians put up with this level of dysfunctional government, corruption and misery.  Vodka?   That’s how they put up with it.  But ignorance, disinformation and stupidity help.  Watch the person-on-street interviews to see how they even surpass their American counterparts in willful Know-Nothngness.