Real Cinema: Zhanna Agalakova

Vitaly Mansky walks through Riga with Zhanna Agalakova, a former news anchor and Channel One correspondent in France. They talk about the decision she made after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Agalakova left television, no longer willing to be part of state propaganda.

What happens to someone who has spent years working for Russia’s largest television network and at some point realizes that they can no longer remain within the system? Where is the line between journalism, responsibility, and propaganda?

Agalakova talks about leaving Channel One and the inner conflict behind that decision. She also discusses her new film, Russia today, how people live on opposite sides of the information divide, and a difficult question: can Russia be understood — and should we even try to understand it?

A walking conversation about journalism, propaganda, personal responsibility, and an attempt to make sense of a country transformed by war.