Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Follows the man who survived an assassination attempt by poisoning with a lethal nerve agent in August 2020. During his months-long recovery, he makes shocking discoveries about the attempt on his life and decides to return home.
Navalny is a gripping documentary that unfolds with the tension of a thriller. The central narrative — Navalny recovering from a Novichok poisoning and then orchestrating a sting operation that extracts a confession from one of his would-be assassins — is genuinely extraordinary and nearly unbelievable. The plot earns a 4 for its remarkable real-world twists and dramatic momentum. Novelty is high because the film is singular: no other documentary has captured this particular blend of political courage, dark comedy, and live-action espionage unfolding in real time. The ending, where Navalny knowingly returns to Russia facing near-certain imprisonment, carries enormous emotional and moral weight, earning a 4. Cinematography is solid and functional but not especially distinctive for a documentary of this type — above average but not exceptional. The 'acting' dimension applied to a documentary reflects the subjects' screen presence; Navalny himself is charismatic and compelling, though supporting figures are less developed, landing it at a 3.