Navalny - Navalny (2022)

Daniel Roher's Navalny transcends a mere biographical documentary, evolving into an electrifying, real-time political thriller executed with raw cinéma vérité. The film judiciously avoids extensive backstory, instead plunging viewers into the audacious, almost real-time investigation surrounding Alexei Navalny's Novichok poisoning. Roher masterfully builds palpable tension, particularly during the iconic phone call where the shocking assassination plot unravels. The steadfastness of Bellingcat's team and Maria Pevchikh in pursuing evidence is compelling. Navalny himself emerges with defiant charisma, balancing vulnerability with an unyielding resolve, turning the film into a powerful testament to the potency of independent investigative journalism. It's not merely a searing indictment of authoritarianism but a quintessential example of the political investigative documentary genre.