Truth or Dare | WATCH DOCS

In his latest film, Tonislav Hristov, winner of the European Film Award for “The Good Postman” (2017), vividly portrays the unequal struggle democratic societies in Europe face against far-right movements bankrolled by Russia. The documentary exposes the seemingly absurd tactics of populists fighting the so-called “moral decay of the West,” enlisting flat-earthers, conspiracy preachers, and fanatics of every stripe. Hristov dissects how insular communities fall prey to manipulative profiteers who turn propaganda into a lucrative business, and how trolls and agents of influence infiltrate Europe’s political circles. Yet the film’s true focus lies elsewhere: on the journalists who stand on the front lines of the battle for democracy, risking their lives to uncover truths most would rather ignore. 

Konrad Wirkowski