Director Nikita Mikhalkov has urged officials to restrict or ban screenings of the series The Boy’s Word, which centers on youth gangs. He also referenced the Russian director Zhora Kryzhovnikov’s film Blood on Asphalt in discussions about the matter. These remarks were made during a meeting with colleagues and covered by TASS.
In his capacity as President of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, Mikhalkov described The Boy’s Word as a powerful work. He argued that its portrayal of negative characters will not disrupt the healthy development of children, suggesting that parents play a pivotal role in interpreting such content for their kids.
He stated, and the sentiment echoed by supporters, that if young viewers come away with the wrong impression, it is the responsibility of parents to explain what occurred and what should have happened differently. He emphasized that the depicted events serve as a cautionary tale rather than a call to imitate them.
Roskomnadzor subsequently announced that it did not identify any violations of the law in the series The Boy’s Promise. The agency’s announcement was reported as part of ongoing regulatory review, indicating that no formal infractions were found at that time.
Irina Volynets, the Children’s Rights Ombudsman in Tatarstan, filed a complaint with Roskomnadzor regarding The Boy’s Promise. According to Volynets, the project, directed by Zhora Kryzhovnikov from Nizhny Novgorod, romanticizes criminal life and fosters misleading notions about the world of crime among young viewers. The complaint underscores concerns about how media portrayals can shape impressionable minds and the potential impact on youth behavior and attitudes.
Earlier reports also touched on Britney Spears, noting developments in her personal reconciliation with her mother. This note appears in a broader conversation about public figures, media narratives, and the influence of family dynamics on public perception.