ANTIDOTE

United Kingdom, 2024, 89 min

Director: James Jones

What price do you pay for being on Vladimir Putin’s “hit list”? The answer to this troubling question is presented in unsettling fashion in the urgent Antidote, which anchors its riveting narrative on several committed and brave individuals who put their livelihoods on the line in order to expose and disrupt Putin’s murderous tactics.

James Jones’ intimate and assertive lens follows three individuals on the frontlines of this campaign against repression and violence: a whistleblower from inside Russia’s “poison program” as he attempts to flee the country, a leading political activist who was poisoned twice and is now accused of treason, and a man who leads the charge on revealing criminal network and, as a result, is forced to go into hiding himself.

Anchored by kinetic storytelling and a determined clarity of purpose, Antidote throws into stark relief the deadly consequences and ramifications of Putin’s schemes and fearlessly foregrounds individuals willing to lose it all in the name of justice and accountability.

From its very first moments, “Antidote” unspools like a propulsive thriller and at a fast speed to tell its high-stakes story about Vladimir Putin’s Russia, contemporary investigative journalism and the people who put their lives in jeopardy for what they believe in.

This is feature-length call to action and  a tribute to the people who possess the courage to stand up against tyranny, even though it puts a target on their backs.

 “Antidote” is a poignant exploration of bravery against overwhelming odds, this is a formidable testament to the enduring power of integrity and justice in the relentless face of oppression.

Original Language: English, Bulgarian, Russian

English subtitles