Co-director Werner Herzog sat down several times with ex-President of the USSR (1985-92), Mickhail Gorbachev (now in his late 80s), and this documentary is in large part a conversation between these two men. Herzog is visibly in awe of his subject here, but it may be justified — Gorbachev is responsible for Soviet era reforms which have significantly altered geo-political relations (for good and ill). While interesting, the scenes covering Gorbachev’s childhood and personal life take a back seat to the discussion of politics. (Subtitles.)
