Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell (2026): Cast, Story and Release

Prepared by Movies Dock Editorial

Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell explores the rise of Dr Anatoly Kashpirovsky, whose televised healing séances captivated hundreds of millions across the Soviet bloc. Through his extraordinary claims and divisive public image, the documentary places him within a period of sweeping political transformation in Eastern Europe.

Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell focuses on Dr Anatoly Kashpirovsky, a figure who became widely known for televised healing séances across the Soviet bloc. At the height of his career, he claimed that the force of his persuasion could remotely anaesthetise three women undergoing major surgery.

The documentary presents Kashpirovsky as both a mass-media phenomenon and a deeply divisive public figure. His followers embraced him, while his enemies rejected him, making his story closely connected to a society experiencing radical political change.

Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell movie details

Story without spoilers

The film follows the remarkable public story of Anatoly Kashpirovsky and the television broadcasts that made him an unlikely household name across the Soviet bloc. His séances reached hundreds of millions of viewers and broke viewing records, giving him an influence far beyond that of a conventional television personality.

At the centre of the documentary is Kashpirovsky’s claim that persuasion alone could produce a powerful physical effect, including remote anaesthesia for three women during major surgery. The film also considers his contrasting reception: he was admired by devoted followers and opposed by determined critics. Without revealing more than the supplied premise, the documentary frames his rise against a backdrop of major political transformation.

What to expect

This is a documentary built around a controversial public figure, mass television audiences and the extraordinary claims that shaped Kashpirovsky’s reputation. Viewers can expect an account of his televised healing séances and the unusual place he occupied in public life across the Soviet bloc.

The film’s subject also gives it a broader historical setting. Kashpirovsky’s popularity emerged during a period of radical political transformation, so the documentary connects his personal story with the changing world around him. Its central focus is the tension between belief, opposition and the power of televised persuasion.

Cast and creative team

Anatoly Kashpirovsky appears as himself. Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell is directed and written by Łukasz Konopa.

• Anatoly Kashpirovsky as Self

Release and production context

Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell is a 2026 documentary from Poland and the Czech Republic. It has a listed release date of October 16, 2026, and runs for 1 hour and 22 minutes. The spoken languages are Polish, English, German, Ukrainian and Russian. The production companies are Silver Frame, MX35, PINK and HBO Max.

Production companies: Silver Frame, MX35, PINK, HBO Max

Movies Dock view

Kashpirovsky. Under the Spell offers a focused account of a television healer whose claims and broadcasts made him a powerful, controversial presence across the Soviet bloc. Its subject combines media history, public belief and political change without requiring the story to be separated from the era that made Kashpirovsky’s influence possible.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb