Web Resources - Print Resources - Media Resources |
| Alexander Solzhenitsyn Teacher Resource Guide |
| Recommended because this website contains Solzhenitsyn's autobiography, his bibliography, as well as two separate teacher guides and lesson plans for the Russian author and Nobel Prize winner's "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich." updated September 2003. Be aware of the fact that "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" shows well, in language accessible to secondary school students, the harsh reality of life in the USSR during the late Stalin period. This is a book that students generally find enjoyable and rewarding to read. |
| Baba Yaga |
| Recommended because this is a lesson plan dealing with the Russian folktale Baba Yaga and is designed for students grade 2-4. Be aware of the fact that this lesson plan is part of the larger Educator's Reference Desk website. |
| Bellona Foundation |
| Recommended because this is an unmatched source of information on nuclear waste and radioactive pollution in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Start by going to the About Bellona section to get some background on this organization. Be aware of the fact that one large source of nuclear contamination, for example, are the rusting atomic submarines of the Russian navy at anchor in the Arctic Ocean. A very large website with a wealth of information on nuclear contamination. |
| Beyond the Pale: The History of Jews in Russia |
| Recommended because of its comprehensive approach to this subject. Start by going to the Why This Exhibit? section and then move to the Introduction. Be aware of the fact that "Beyond the Pale" not only gives a detailed history of Jews in Russia (including the Holocaust and the Soviet purges) from the late eighteenth century to the present, it also explores the roots of anti-Semitism in European history. An extremely professional production with dozens of high-quality photographs to complement the narratives. Highly recommended. There is also a Russian language version of this website. | |||
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| Chronology of Russian History: The Soviet Period (1917-1991) |
| Recommended because this is a very detailed timeline of Soviet Russian history, wonderfully organized and fully hyperlinked. Start by going to the Russian Revolution section, since Soviet history, after all, begins with the revolutions of 1917. Be aware of the fact that this website was produced by Bucknell University, which has other Russian history timelines as well, including Early Russian History and Imperial Russian History. |
| Collapse of the USSR: Ten Years On |
| Recommended because this BBC produced website does two things very well. First, it gives a detailed chronology and analysis of how and why the Soviet Union collapsed. Secondly, it reports on how each of the fifteen newly independent states of the former Soviet Union were doing in 2001, a full decade after the USSR imploded. An excellent website. Start by going to Timeline: Countdown to Collapse for a great overview. Be aware of the option to access this website in Russian. |
| Defense Mechanisms:Exploring the Recent History of Nuclear Diplomacy Between Russia and the United States |
| Recommended because this lesson sheds light on the nuclear arms race between the US and Russia, a competition which continues more than a decade after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Overview of Lesson Plan: In this lesson, students examine the Cold War roots of the recent debate over the construction of United States and Russian missile defense shields. Start by reading the NYT article,Putin Says Russia Would Counter US Shield, upon which the lesson is based. Be aware of the fact that this lesson plan was published by the New York Times Learning Network, 2001, and is designed for grades 6-8 and 9-12. Also, be aware that this article is dated now, since the US has decided to build a nuclear shield and Russia has taken the decision not to try to build a shield of its own. |
| Doctors Without Borders: Russia and Chechnya |
| Recommended because of its extensive coverage of the war in Chechnya, which Doctors Without Borders characterized as one of the Ten Most Underreported Humanitarian Stories of 2001. Doctors Without Borders has been running refugee camps in and near Chechnya for years. Start by going to the Field News section which has reports from individual countries, including much of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Be aware of the fact that Doctors Without Borders recently (summer 2004) decided to pull its workers out of Afghanistan because of the declining security situation in that benighted country. |
| General Russian Studies from an American Source |
| Recommended because the Library of Congress has one of the largest Russian materials collections in the United States. The Library collection is primarily print materials, although a good video collection is listed. Coverage is spotty, so you may find something great or nothing on the topic you desire. | |||
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| Guide to Russian Internet Resources |
| Recommended because this site is maintained by the British Library for serious researchers. It is valuable because it contains a good number of Internet links to other libraries, academic institutions with Russian studies centers (both in the UK and abroad), as well as links to Russian news sources. Be aware of the existence of a section of links to Internet resources (organized by nation), in addition to the online guides to the materials collection (also organized by Slavic nationality). |
| Johnson's Russia List |
| Recommended because Johnson's Russia List is a comprehensive daily e-mail news service about Russia. Each list contains articles and commentary about Russian politics, economics, society, and culture. Perhaps the best single source for what is happening in Russia today, especially since Russian perspectives (translated from the original Russian into English) appear alongside Western articles. Be aware of the fact that you can subscribe to the list by writing David Johnson at davidjohnson@erols.com. To access past editions of the List, go to the "2004" section (or to the "Archives" section if you are interested in stories before 2004). |
| Library of Congress Soviet Archives Exhibit |
| Recommended because this online exhibit does a good job of discussing the major periods and issues in Soviet history and matches them with state documents recently declassified from the former Soviet archives. The exhibit is divided into two broad areas: Internal Workings of the Soviet System and The Soviet Union and the United States. Be aware of the fact that the exhibit covers the entire period of Soviet history, from 1917 to 1991. The only drawback to the website is that the declassified documents, while interesting, can hardly be considered sensational. |
| Pravda |
| Recommended because this is the former official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, but today has become a mainstream publication of the post-Soviet Russian press. Be aware of the fact that unlike The Moscow Times, this newspaper is not pro-Western, but rather more Russian nationalist in tone. For this reason it is very useful for a critical view of the US role in world politics, one that is shared by a clear majority of Russians. Articles are translated from the Russian and often the translations are a little rough. | |||
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| Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Newsline |
| Recommended because of its daily news report on the Former Soviet Union andEastern Europe. News stories are brief, objective, and focus primarily on political developments. They are divided into the following areas: Russia; Transcaucasus and Central Asia; Central and Eastern Europe; and Southeastern Europe. Be aware of the fact that one can receive the daily RFE/RL news reports for free by e-mail (write to newsline-subscribe@list.rferl.org) or the reports can be accessed on the RFE/RL website, which also has a newsline archive. |
| Reform, Coup and Collapse: The End of Soviet Communism and of the Soviet State |
| Recommended because this website was written by the highly-regarded political scientist and Russian specialist Professor Archie Brown. This BBC website seeks to answer two important questions: What were the reasons behind the collapse of the Soviet Union, and how was this complex political system dismantled? Be aware of the fact that there is nothing fancy here, only text and a few photographs, but the writing is good and the analysis is even better. One of the best short accounts of the collapse of the Soviet Union. |
| Return of the Czar: Examining the Failures of US Policy and Yeltsin's Leadership During Russia's Tumultuous Post-Soviet Transformation |
| Recommended because this very good website provides critical analysis of Russia in the 1990s. It gives very detailed critiques, both from the Russian and US perspectives, of how the Yeltsin government failed guide Russia's difficult transition from Communism to liberal democracy in the 1990s. Start by going to the Synopsis section to get a good overview. Be aware of the fact that this website was produced by Frontline to complement the television documentary by the same name. |
| Russia and Eastern Europe Chronology (WebChron) |
| Recommended because this site has very detailed and comprehensive hyperlinked separate chronologies for Russia, Poland, and the Balkans. The timelines have links to give detailed descriptions of historical events. Be aware of the fact that chronologies exist for all the their major world regions and religions as well. A high-quality product of the History department at North Park University. |
| Russian Architecture |
| Recommended because this is part of the Library of Congress' Empire that was Russia collection. This is a beautiful site, and very navigable. Start by scrolling down the page, reading the text, and enjoying the magnificent photographs. | |||
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| Russian Ethnic Diversity |
| Recommended because this is a brief but beautiful pictorial exhibition covers several groups in Russia. The creator is the former photographer for the Tsar. Very high quality photographs. Be aware of the fact that this website is part of the Library of Congress "Empire that was Russia" collection. |
| Russian History |
| Recommended because this is perhaps the best and most comprehensive annotated index of links to websites relating to Russian history from earliest times to the present. Be aware of the fact that this website is produced by Bucknell University. |
| Russian Literature: The Middle Ages to Dostoevsky |
| Recommended because this is a series of lectures by Professor Gary Jahn of the University of Minnesota. Topics include separate lectures on Pushkin, Lermontov, and Gogol, as well as three lectures devoted to Dostoevsky. A timeline and bibliography are also included. Start by clicking on "Supplementary Materials on Russian Literature" at the bottom left of the screen in order to access this series of lectures. | |||
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| Russia's Nuclear Warriors |
| Recommended because this is the companion Web site to "Russia's Nuclear Warriors" broadcast in 2001. The film chronicles the lives of Russia's roketchiki, the missileers who stand ready to push the nuclear button at a special command from Moscow. Be aware of the fact that topics and materials in the website include sections "False Alarms on the Nuclear Front," "Global Guide to Nuclear Missiles," and "From First Alert to Missile Launch," which allows students to experience in real time the tense ten minutes of a hypothetical launch-on-warning scenario within Russia. Produced by PBS and NOVA. |
| SAPE |
| Recommended because SAPE matches people from the United States with pen pals in the fomer Soviet Union (including Russia and all fourteen of the other former Soviet Republics). It provides this service with the goal of fostering international understanding and educating people about the former Soviet Union on a one-to-one basis. Be aware of the fact, however, that e-mail is not used. Rather, pen pals write to each other by postal mail only. The program is for ages 8 and older (adults as well as children); pen pals usually write in English, although SAPE is always looking for Americans who can write in Russian; pen pals are matched on the basis of age, common language, and choice of male or female pen pal. |
| Soviet Legacy: From communism Through Chaos |
| Recommended because this is a huge and useful website from 2001 that is ideal for teachers and secondary school students to learn about Russia's transition from socialism to capitalism and democracy over the last decade. Be aware of the fact that in addition to a major article on Russia's transition, there are dozens of side stories on Russian society, politics, culture, economics, and foreign policy. All are written in an engaging, highly readable style and are accompanied by color photographs. Produced by CNN, this is a terrific site. |
| Soviet Literature Webpage |
| Recommended because this is a large and useful, yet not overly academic site for information on Soviet writers, summaries of their works, and links to related websites. Start by deciding which if of most interest: going to the "Texts" section to see which Soviet works are available online, checking out "Features" for discussions of specific topics, looking at "Mini-Summaries" which offers synopses of hundreds of novels and short stories, or accessing the "Encyclopedia of Soviet Authors" for concise biographies of Soviet writers. Be aware of the fact that the text is enlivened with hyperlinks and photographs. For example, the Soviet Poster section is incredible. |
| Split Character Studies in Crime and Punishment |
| Recommended because this lesson uses one of the great novels of all time, Feodor Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment" as its text. Specifically, it looks at the author's use of split personalities or split characters in several of the main figures of the novel. In the process, students discover that a careful study of the characters in a literary classic will yield important clues to a clearer understanding of the novel as a whole. Start by going to whatever section that most interests you: Objectives; Materials; Procedures; Adaptations; Discussion; Questions; Evaluation; Extensions; Suggested Readings; Links; Vocabulary; Academic Standards; or Credit. Be aware of the fact that this lesson was designed for grades 11-12 and was produced by the Discovery Channel. | |||
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| St. Petersburg Times |
| Recommended because although this is another business-oriented (i.e., Western oriented) English-language newspaper, it is worthwhile because it carries in-depth coverage of Russian news and features an excellent Russian arts and culture section. Start by reading the top stories (found on the home page) and going to the Opinion section for editorial views. Be aware of the Special Features section which has great articles on Russia's last tsar, Nicholas II. |
| The Cold War |
| Recommended because it contains a wealth of links focusing on the history of the Cold War, including primary sources and historical analysis, facts and figures, quizzes, interactive maps, educators' guides, and much more. This enormous site is suitable both for students and educators. Start by simply browsing the website and clicking on whatever strikes your interest. Be aware of the fact that CNN's made a high quality documentary series on the Cold War in 1998 and that this web site is a companion for that series. |
| The History Net: Russian History |
| Recommended because this is a good place to start research on Russian history. Topics and materials linked include: General Histories and Timelines, The Romanovs, Nineteenth Century Russia, Reforming Russia, and Revolutionary and Communist Russia. Be aware of the fact that many of the site's links are located to the far right in the "More Categories" area. |
| The Moscow Times |
| Recommended because it is the premier English-language newspaper in Russia. Be aware of the paper's decidedly pro-business and pro-Western orientation. As a result, the paper's editorial positions and reporting slant cannot be considered typical for Russia. Still, the quality of journalism is high. |
| Time Magazine's 100 Most Important People of the Twentieth Century |
| Recommended because seven of the 100 are East Europeans: V.I. Lenin, Igor Stravinsky, Andrei Sakharov, Mother Theresa, Pope John Paul II, Lech Walesa, and Mikhail Gorbachev. Be aware of the fact that each man is separately profiled in an essay written by a highly qualified author (for example, Pulitzer Prize winner David Remnick penned Lenin's biography). | |||
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| Vladivostok News |
| Recommended because it gives a provincial perspective on Russian news. Vladivostok is located on the Pacific Ocean thousands of miles distant from the Russian capital, Moscow. Be aware of the fact that although it is primarily a business-oriented newspaper, it also contains articles on Russian politics and culture. |
| Voice of Russia |
| Recommended because this is the official voice of the Russian government. One can listen to broadcasts in English, Russian, and several other languages. Be aware of the fact that you can get a Russian perspective on news, Russian culture, history, etc. in written form at the Voice of Russia's English language website at http://www.vor.ru/index_eng.html. |
| A Closer Look: Classroom Activities to Enhance Understanding of the Former Soviet Union (1996) Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended for its fourteen detailed activities covering daily life in the former Soviet Union, ex-Soviet stereotypes, and political issues. The activities involve map reading, analyzing texts, and assessing one's own perceptions about the region. Recommended for Grades 9-12. (Ann Arbor, MI: Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Michigan), 83 pages. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| An Anthology of Russian Literature from Earliest Writings to Modern Fiction : Introduction to a Culture Author: Nicholas Rzhevsky (Editor), M.E. Sharpe (1997) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a collection of some of the most important works in Russian literature. Arrangement of the selections is chronological and each section places the literary works in their historical context and notes later cultural resonances. Following each text is an introductory guide to primary and secondary sources, including available aesthetic transformations of the work, its subjects, and its motifs in film, video, musical recordings, and art collections. These listings helpfully emphasize Russian rather than non-Russian responses in the arts (e.g. Sergei Bondarchuk's film adaptation of War and Peace rather than the American version). Professor Rzhevsky is in the Russian department at SUNY, Stony Brook. Available from Amazon.com for $40. |
| Breakup of the Soviet Union TeacherÂ’s Guide: U.S.-Russian Relations Ten Years Later Author: Tiffany Farrell Larbalestier and Charles R. Sass, Close Up Foundation (1999) |
| Recommended because Designed for the high school level. This teachers guide is recommended because it examines the events and causes of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Includes student activities, handouts, and test materials. Reviewed by and available from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute. | |||
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| Charting Russia's Future in the Post-Soviet Era Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended as a curriculum unit with materials that draw students into the debate on post-Soviet Russia's still uncertain identity (authoritarianism vs.liberalism, Europe vs. Asia, etc.). Unlike most Choices units, Charting Russia's Future in the Post-Soviet Era is not written from the U.S. perspective. Rather, students are asked to see the world through Russian eyes and to contemplate Russian choices in the areas of economic development, political organization, and foreign policy. Produced and reviewed by and available from Choices for the 21st Century Education Program (Seventh edition, 2000). Complete Unit, $15 Student Texts (15 or more), $7 a copy. Be aware that units can be downloaded from the Internet for $12. |
| Common People, Uncommon Strength--Teaching the Rest of the Story: Events of the Common People of Russia (1998) Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended as classroom activities and resources for teaching about the common people (narod) in Medieval Russia, Imperial Russia, and the Soviet Period. Designed for grades 5-12. (Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas Center for Russian and East European Studies), 68 pages. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| Cultural Atlas of Russia and the Former Soviet Union (Cultural Atlas Series) Author: R. R. Milner-Gulland, Nikalai Dijeuski, Robin Miner-Gulland, Nikolai Dejevsky |
| Recommended because 240 pages; Revised edition (October 1998) Recommended because this publication is a dazzling display of the history and culture of Russia and the former Soviet Union through 50 maps and 300 photographs (200 in color). A survey of Russian civilization from prehistory to the present. |
| Current History Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended because once a year, this journal devotes an issue to Russia (October) and to Europe, including Eastern Europe (November). Subjects covered include politics, economics, and international relations, and the quality of the analysis is very high. Table of contents for previous issues, as well as ordering information, is available online at http://www.currenthistory.com/. |
| From Nyet to Da : Understanding the Russians Author: by Yale Richmond |
| Recommended because Paperback, 219 pages. Revised & Updated edition (September 1996) Intercultural Press; ISBN: 1877864412 Recommended because this is the single best book for Americans to read to gain insight into how and why Russians think and act differently than us. Remarkable insights into how the Russian character has been shaped by their culture, geography, political system, etc. Not only useful, this is a very readable and interesting book. | |||
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| Global Studies: Russia, The Eurasian Republics, and Central/Eastern Europe (9th Edition, 2000) Author: Minton F. Goldman, Northeastern University; ISBN: 0-07-250576-1 |
| Recommended because Highly recommended because it is one of the best sources under one cover of up-to-date information for teachers on the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Covers the entire region, contains up-to-date statistics and maps, and features readable and very recent articles by experts on the current political and economic situations in the various countries in the region. Russia, not surprisingly, gets the most coverage. Designed for college-level courses, but excellent as a teacher resource or for advanced high-school students. Available through McGraw-Hill/Dushkin, or through Amazon.com for $25.25. |
| Koshka's Tales: Stories from Russia Author: James Mayhew (Kingfisher Books, 1993, 80 pages) |
| Recommended because Designed for elementary school level. Recommended because the author has retold five of the most famous Russian fairy tales in contemporary English. The tales are woven together by the cat Koshka, a wise old story-telling cat, who is narrating to a banished Tsaritsa and are accompanied by full-color, full-page illustrations, also done by Mayhew. Reviewed by and available from the Indiana University Russian and East European Institute. |
| Lenin's Tomb : The Last Days of the Soviet Empire Author: David Remnick (1993, 588 pages) |
| Recommended because Recommended because this Pulizer Prize winner for nonfiction is one of the best single sources for information on the collapse of the Soviet Union and the early Post-Soviet era. Rather than providing a chronicle of events, Remnick instead writes about key personalities, most of whom he personally interviewed. A great read. Those who like this book should consider also reading as a follow-up, Remnick's 1998 Resurrection: The Struggle for a New Russia. Available from Amazon.com for $11.17. |
| Mapping Russia: Geographic and Cultural Diversity Author: Curriculum Unit for Upper Secondary School. 42 pages/3 lessons. Price: $21.95 |
| Recommended because This unit is recommended because it approaches the subject of Russia from a particular angle: it seeks to take the students inside the “black box” and introduce them to the vast diversity of this country, its political-administrative structure, its natural resources, the mosaic of its ethnic groups and their territorial homelands, its main geographic regions, spreading across 11 time zones of Europe and Asia, from the Baltic to the Pacific, and from the Arctic to the Caspian. The organization of the unit is two-fold, including both geographic and thematic components. Each lesson covers a particular geographic area with an emphasis on a specific theme. Available through SPICE (The Stanford Program in International and Cross Cultural Education). |
| Russia (1974) Author: St. Louis, MO: Milliken Publishing Co. |
| Recommended because Recommended as a selection of maps and worksheets for teaching about pre-Revolutionary Russian history. Though somewhat dated, the historical maps are useful for showing the changing borders of the Russian Empire. Designed for grades 6-9. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. | |||
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| Russia in Search of Democracy (1997) Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended for its large selection of lesson plans for grades K-6 on Russian culture, politics, and history. Topics and materials include innovative group activities, worksheets, sample questions, and art projects. 1997 Fulbright-Hays Curriculum Development Small Group Project in Russia, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| Russian: Exploratory Language and Culture (1994) Author: Austin, TX: University of Texas at Austin Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. |
| Recommended because Recommended as a set of materials focusing on Russian culture through language. Includes a video and audio cassette, detailed lesson plans, flashcards, Easter egg coloring kit, and readings on history and culture. Designed for grades 7-12. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| Teaching Russian Studies (1995) Author: Patricia Winpenny, Katherine Weeks Cadwell, and Louise Cadwell |
| Recommended because Denver, CO: Center for Teaching International Relations, University of Denver, 219 pages. Recommended as an introduction to Russian language, culture, and literature. Topics and materials include an overview of Russian history and geography, and as well as activities on Russian folk tales, folk dancing, and descriptions of childrenÂ’s lives in Russia. Includes language cassette tape and slides of art by Russian children. Designed for grades 7-12. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| The Fall of the Soviet Union Author: Harvey Hiles (Children's Press, 1995, 31 pages) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a history simplified for grades 3-6, the book is accompanied by good visuals, a glossary, and a time line. There are some misleading statements, which seem inevitable in such an attempt. Reviewed by and available from the University of Illinois' Russian and East European Center. | |||
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| The Handbook of the Former Soviet Union (1997) Author: Michael G. Kort (Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press, 238 pages) |
| Recommended because Recommended as an overview of the successor states to the Soviet Union including full color maps and photographs. The nations of the CIS, Baltic States, and Georgia are covered in separate chapters outlining their histories, politics, and current issues. The final section provides an explanation of important concepts and political figures. Reviewed by and available for loan from the University of Michigan's Center for Russian and East European Studies. |
| The Routledge Atlas of Russian History Author: Martin Gilbert (2nd edition, November 1995, 208 pages) |
| Recommended because Recommended because the author clearly presents the complex history of Russia over 2,000 years in this series of 161 maps. In addition to the wars and expansion of Russia, he covers other less noticed details of its history, from famine and anarchism to the growth of naval strength and foreign relations. A fine work, one that will be updated in a third edition in mid-2002. Available from Amazon.com for $20. |
| Through Russian Eyes (1999) Author: No author |
| Recommended because Recommended as a secondary school curriculum for teaching about Russia was designed and written by 15 Russian educators for their American counterparts. After teaching for five months in American schools, these educators compiled this book, including everything American secondary teachers need to introduce their students to Russian history, culture, society and art. Includes 10 lesson plans on literature, recent economic and political changes, folk customs, history, the arts, architecture, the Russian character and more. The curriculum is designed to last 2 to 4 weeks of class time. A full-color, bilingual wall map, 17 slides and nearly a dozen handouts are included. Produced and reviewed by and available from Project Harmony, 80 pages ($40). |
| Vasilissa the Beautiful: A Russian Fairy Tale Author: Adapted by Elizabeth Winthrop and illustrated by Alexander Koshkin (HarperCollins, 1991) |
| Recommended because Recommended because a reviewer for SLJ finds the descriptions of Baba Yaga's house and her three servants especially effective and the illustrations excellent. Desinged for grades 2-4. Reviewed by and available for free loan from and reviewed by the University of Illinois' Russian and East European Center. |
| Aleksandr Nevsky (1938) |
| Recommended because this is the film version of the historical drama of thirteenth-century Russian prince Alexander who lived peacefully under Mongol occupation, but led the fight against the invading Teutonic Knights at the Battle on the Ice. A powerful film, both for its historic and cultural value. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein (black & white, 107 min). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. | |||
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| Andrei Rublev (Strasti po Andreiu) (1966) |
| Recommended because , set during the Mongol domination of Russia, this film is director Andrei Tarkovsky's critically acclaimed biography of the 15th century Russian monk and icon painter. Despite the poor technical quality of the film, many critics consider this movie to one of the ten best of all time (black & white with color sequence, 185 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. |
| Anna (1994) |
| Recommended because after filming his daughter Anna over the course of 13 years, director Nikita Mikhalkov (Burnt by the Sun) incorporated that footage with news reports and propaganda films that charted the collapse of the Soviet Union. The result is this intimate, emotionally charged documentary that is recommended because it shows how personal and political life are forever intertwined (99 min). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. |
| Battleship Potemkin (Bronenosets Potemkin) (1925) |
| Recommended because this is a classic early Soviet film which commemorates a mutiny aboard a Russian warship anchored at Odessa, Russia, during the Revolution of 1905. Great for getting a sense of the Soviet perspective on 1905, the precursor to the successful communist revolution in 1917. Be aware that the "Odessa Steps" scene is one of the most widely discussed sequences in film history. Directed by Sergei Eisenstein (black & white, 66 min). Silent with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. |
| Before Gorbachev: From Stalin to Brezhnev (1977) |
| Recommended because this film was made in the Soviet Union in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, this ambitious film documents the history of the USSR for those 60 years, emphasizing progress and the success of the communist system. A crash course in 20th century Russian history from a Soviet point of view (50 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. |
| Brother (Brat) (1997) |
| Recommended because in this film, set in post-Soviet St. Petersburg, a young soldier returns to civilian life by working with his older brother as a hired assassin. This film has become a cult classic in Russia. It is very good for getting a glimpse at the darker side of life in post-Soviet Russia, a life that is replete with drugs, gangsters, violence, and a lack of a sense of purpose (i.e., the changes that cause many older Russians to want to return to the "good old days" of communism when life was more orderly, there was less crime, and one did not see gangsters dining in restaurants or speeding by in foreign luxury cars. Even though this film portrays the "New" Russia, one should not think that this movie portrays "typical" life in Russia in the late 1990s. Directed by Aleksei Balabanov (95 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $80. | |||
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| Burnt by the Sun (1994) |
| Recommended because it shows how the victims of Soviet repression came from all segments of Russian society. It is set in 1937 (at the height of Stalin's "Terror") in a country home just outside of Moscow, A very good film, but also quite complex, and it may be above the heads of most secondary school students. Winner of the 1994 Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Russian-French co-production (134 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. |
| Chapayev (1934) |
| Recommended because it is not only a Soviet film classic, it is one of the most popular of all Soviet films. The story of a legendary Red Army commander during the Russian Civil War (1918-1920), a hero whose popularity was all the greater because "he was a man of the people, unlettered but thirsting for knowledge -- like many of the film's viewers -- as well as witty and brave" (Richard Stites). Directed by Sergei and Georgi Vasiliev (94 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $50. |
| Come and See (1985) |
| Recommended because this is a dramatization of the horrors of the Nazi-Soviet war in Belorussia which some have likened to Schindler's List in terms of its sobering impact. The destruction and human suffering in the USSR caused by the Second World War was on such a huge scale that it is difficult to comprehend; but no area of the former Soviet Union was more devastated by the war than Belorussia. This film graphically portrays the carnage and physical ruin that occurred there (131 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $25. |
| Commissar (1967) |
| Recommended because based on Russian writer Vasily Grossman's "In the Town of Berdichev," this is a classic film which tells the story of a tough Bolshevik military commissar who must leave the Civil War front in the Ukraine to bear the child she had no time to abort (and whose father she shot for desertion without remorse). Her confinement in the home of a poor but happy Jewish family changes her life. Because of its unorthodoxy (depiction of a Bolshevik commissar having a child out of wedlock as well as its strong Jewish themes), the film was not released until 1987. Directed by Alexandr Askoldov (black & white, 105 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $60. |
| Credo: The Russian Orthodox Church (1992) |
| Recommended because this program captures the sights and smells and other-worldly color of the revived Orthodox Church in Russia and traces its history, from oppression under Stalin to its newfound freedom. Some fascinating and often deeply moving interviews with families of believers complement the visual splendor of Church worship. The program also examines the new challenge to orthodoxy presented by the rival Catholic Church competing in a free market of souls (30 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $90. | |||
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| Dateline 1985: Moscow (1991) |
| Recommended because of its review of Soviet leaders preceding Gorbachev (1985-91) and examination of Gorbachev's policies of Glasnost and Perestroika (23 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. |
| Facing the Future: Part 3 |
| Recommended because In Boris Godunov, the great composer Mussorgsky dramatized the conflict between power and the people during Russia's original "Time of Troubles." Sergei Eisenstein retold history with silent films of such power that they became more real than actual events. This segment explores the advance of Russian music and cinema, and looks at how new media forms are shaping Russian during its current time of change (60 minutes). |
| Great Russian Composers Series |
| Recommended because this series of videos on Russian classical music composers provide excellent introductory biographies. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or each tape may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. Modest Mussorgsky : In English. Biography of noted Russian composer who lived from 1839-1881 and whose best-known works include "Picutres at an Exhibition" and "Night on Bald Mountain" (30 minutes). Sergei Rachmaninov :In English. Biography of the great Russian composer and pianist who lived from 1874-1943, and who left Russia in 1917, never to return (30 minutes). Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov :In English. Biography of the Russian composer who lived from 1844 to 1908, and creator of such masterpieces as Scheherazade and the Russian Easter Overture (30 minutes). Alexander Scriabin : In English. Biography of Russian composer who lived from 1872 to 1915 (30 minutes). Peter Tchaikovsky : In English. Biography of the Russian composer who lived from 1840-93, and whose most famous works include "The Nutcracker," "1812 Overture," Piano Concerto No. 1 and the Symphony No. 6 ("Pathetique") (30 minutes). |
| Great Russian Writers: Leo Tolstoy |
| Recommended because this is a biography of the Russian novelist (b. 1828, d. 1910) which focuses on his personal life rather than this literary works. Superficial at times, this video does however take the viewer to the places in Russia where Tolstoy lived and worked and could serve as a good introduction to the writer's troubled life (25 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. |
| Growing Old in Russia (2001) |
| Recommended because this is a look at the lives of senior citizens in the Lake Baikal region of Russia, where the brutal winters tie the community close together and make sharing memories a major pastime. World War II veterans still bring out their uniforms and wear them with pride, rugged living and chores still occupy a land with limited government assistance, and vodka is in heavy use by these hardy souls (50 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from Indiana University's Russian and East European Studies Institute. | |||
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| Hidden Memory (1995) |
| Recommended because eighty years ago, Soviet authorities began a systematic effort to destroy Russian religious and cultural traditions in order to secure loyalty to the state. Today, a handful of folklorists are in a race against time to uncover and preserve true Russian culture. Traveling though the countryside, often at their own expense, students and scholars are visiting elderly villagers, recording their songs, dances and stories and collecting traditional costumes. "Russia: Hidden Memory" takes viewers on a journey through remote areas seldom visited by outsiders. As a dedicated Russian folklorist, Galina Sysoeva teams with American folklorist, Deirdre Paulsen, to search out the few survivors who remember the "pure" rituals and celebrations that were performed for centuries and capture them for future generations (56 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana University's Russian and East European Studies Institute. |
| Ivan the Terrible (Ivan Groznyi) |
| Recommended because this is the classic film biography of Russia's notorious tsar Ivan the Terrible. Part I: (1944) Tsar Ivan Grozny carries out his dream of unifying all of Russia but is confronted with hostility and treachery within his own family (black & white, 94 min). Part II: (1946) Ivan is denounced by a close friend for the death of a group of boyars and plots his revenge (black & white with some color, 90 min). In Russian with English subtitles. Eisenstein was awarded a Stalin Prize for Part I. Part II was shown to Stalin who intensely disliked it. It was subsequently banned and was thus not publicly released until 1958. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $60. |
| Moscow and Leningrad: The Crown Jewels of Russia (1990) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as another in the superb "Video Visits" series, this tape starts in Moscow where the Kremlin, Red Square, Lenin's Tomb, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Moscow Circus, Gorky Park and GUM are all featured. In Leningrad one sees Palace Square, the Winter Palace with its Hermitage Museum as well as Peter the Great's fabulous retreat, Petrodvorets (50 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $25. |
| Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1979) |
| Recommended because In Russian with English subtitles. Romantic comedy. Recommended because it is probably the most popular movie in Russia during the Brezhnev era (sold 75 million tickets) and winner of the 1980 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. In Moscow in 1958, three small-town girls have just arrived to pursue their dreams. Ludmila is determined to land a rich boyfriend, Tonya settles for a stable marriage to a working class man, while Katerina gets pregnant. She will eventually make it to the top twenty years later. In the process, this realistic movie will help American students see that life under Soviet socialism was not all drab and dull and that in many ways, it was similar to life in the West. But it also shows well Russian culture, for example life at a country “dacha,” a shish-kabob picnic in the woods, Russian drinking habits, Russia’s more traditional values when it comes to relations between men and women, and much more. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $25. |
| My Name is Ivan (1962) |
| Recommended because In Russian with English subtitles. Recommended as the great director Andrei Tarkovsky's first feature film which is the story of a boy (Ivan) who is deprived of his childhood by the harsh realities of the Nazi-Soviet war. Though only a boy, Ivan becomes a battle-hardened partisan who at times appears more mature than the adults surrounding him. The child participates in several military operations as a spy for the Soviet army. This activity has little military implication, however, because he carries no weapon and does not engage in combat. He definitely hates the Germans but it is his love for Mother Russia, epitomized by the image of his mother that drives his actions. (black & white, 84 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. | |||
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| October (Oktiabr) (1927) |
| Recommended because Silent. Directed by the great Soviet filmmaker, Sergei Eisenstein. This film is recommended because it depicts the 1917 Revolution from the Soviet point of view. But it is more than just a piece of propaganda: it is also artistic and compelling cinema. The film begins with the overthrow of the monarchy in February, moves on to the establishment of the Provisional Government and the rise of Kerensky, and culminates with the Bolshevik/Communist takeover under Lenin’s leadership in October. The famous scenes that depict the storming of the Winter Palace are often mistaken for actual historical footage. Highly recommended (104 minutes). By the way, in the West this film is also known as “Ten Days that Shook the World.” Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. |
| Post-Soviet Russia: Promise Deferred (1997) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a program which examines how the Russian city of Gorky has adapted to a free-enterprise system. We see public reaction to the auction of government property, and the opening of private markets. Class divisions became apparent in interviews with the Russian nouveau riche, the Mafia, and average citizens. Ordinary people, tired of waiting for economic benefits promised through privatization, support Communist political candidates who promise renewed state control and a return to traditional Russian values. The city is shown as being torn apart by violent tensions and antagonisms that exist between the advocates of reform and Neo-Communists (55 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute. |
| Red Empire (1990) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as a seven-part history of the Soviet Union which combines documentary film footage and interviews with participants in important historical events. Introduced by Robert Conquest with Geoffrey Hosking as historical consultant. Each film is about 54 minutes long. Produced in the United Kingdom. Volume I: Revolutionaries. Russia to the October Revolution in 1917 Volume II: Winners and Losers. The Civil War to Lenin's Death in 1924 Volume III: Class Warriors. Collectivization and Industrialization Volume IV: Enemies of the People. The Great Purges of the late 1930s Volume V: Patriots. The Soviet-Nazi War, 1941-45 Volume VI: Survivors. From 1945 through the Khrushchev Era Volume VII: Prisoners of the Past. From Brezhnev to Gorbachev Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or each episode may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $15. |
| Return of the Czar (2000) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as a documentary from the series "Frontline." Almost a decade after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia is arguably more free than at any time in its history. But while the West has applauded the market reforms of former President Boris Yeltsin, in Russia there has been collapse. Today, as the country is being militarized, anti-Western propaganda is increasing. In pushing its ideas of reform, did the U.S. turn a blind eye to Kremlin illegality and compromise the moral authority America cultivated throughout the Cold War? As career KGB officer Vladimir Putin-Yeltsin's anointed successor-is set to ascend to Russia's presidency, Frontline takes an in-depth look at what Russia has become and why. Original air date, May 9, 2000 (60 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), or from PBS Video at P.O. Box 791, Alexandria, VA 22313-0791 (800-328-7271). |
| Russia and the Other Former Soviet Republics in Transition (1998) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a six-part videotape, Russia and the Other Former Soviet Republics in Transition, is a valuable educational tool for high school and college instructors that combines news and historical footage with interviews of several former Secretaries of State and Defense, former Russian Foreign Kozyrev and other experts. Each of the six fifteen-minute programs is designed to be used in conjunction with the accompanying instructional guide (90 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute. | |||
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| Russia Today: Daily Life (1995) |
| Recommended because This video is recommended because it acquaints students in grades 5-8 with life in the new "Russia." The program introduces the country once known as the Soviet Union through the eyes of four teenagers from Moscow, Kiev (Ukraine), and St. Petersburg (15 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute. |
| Russia Under the Tsars: Music for a Nation |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as an excellent video on Russian classical music history. The preceding program in this music series, The Search for a Voice, ended with the Crimean War. This one begins in 1881, the year in which Tsar Alexander II was assassinated and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto premiered. The program covers the introduction of musical professionalism by the Rubinstein brothers, the directions of the Mighty Fistful, and focuses on the life and works of Tchaikovsky. Musical contents include sections of Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto, First String Quartet, Eugene Onegin, Swan Lake, the Symphonie Pathétique; Balakirev: Islamei; Borodin: In Central Asia, Second String Quartet; Mussorgsky: Boris Godunov (53 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $90. |
| Russia Under the Tsars: Music for the World |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as an excellent video on Russian classical music history. The musical era that began at the turn of the 20th century was filled with turbulent change: virtuoso performers like Scriabin and Heifetz emerged from the conservatories, and one world-class composer followed another. In many ways, the Composer’s Corner of Leningrad’s Lavra Cemetery sums up the story of Russian music, but Rachmaninov and Stravinsky lived abroad, showing that Russian music had entered the Western world on its own terms. Stravinsky and Schoenberg turned out to be the giants of their time, pushing music towards further and further limits. Musical contents include sections of Rachmaninov: Second Piano Concerto; Scriabin: Poème de l’extase; Stravinsky: Petrushka; Prokofiev: First Piano Concerto (53 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $90. |
| Russia Under the Tsars: The Search for a Voice |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as an excellent video on Russian classical music history. The Russianness of Russian music derives from folk song and the music of the Orthodox church, the characteristic modes, the sounds of bells, the unison a cappella voices of the Russian liturgy, sources not mined until Glinka laid down the foundations of a Russian school of music, almost single-handedly. This program traces the cultural history of Russia from the 17th century, covering the cultural role of the tsars, the building of St. Petersburg, the enthusiasm for France (cut short by the Napoleonic invasion), and the role of Pushkin and, above all, of Glinka. Musical contents include sections of Glinka: A Life for the Tsar, Kamarinskaya, Cherubimskaya; the so-called Rostov Action (53 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $90. |
| Russia: Discovering Russia (1995) |
| Recommended because In English. Part of the "Video Visits" series, this well-made travelogue is recommended because it not only vividly shows the diverse Russian landscape and major Russian cities, it effectively integrates Russian culture and history into the film as well. Highly recommended for classroom use as an introduction to Russia (60 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $25. | |||
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| Russian and Ukrainian Jews |
| Recommended because After decades of oppression, Judaism is experiencing a revival in these areas, aided by the Western and Israeli Jewish communities. This program is recommended because it shows some remarkable footage of worship in a Lubavitch synagogue in Moscow, which has attracted many young Jews to Orthodox Judaism. By contrast, in the Ukrainian town of Chernovtse, only one synagogue survives out of the 80 that existed less than 40 years ago. The program poignantly documents the last of the townÂ’s aged practicing Jews. (30 minutes, color). Available for purchase from Films for the Humanities for $90. |
| Russian Avant Garde Art (1980) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as the high-quality documentary that resulted from the exhibition, "The Avant-Garde in Russia, 1910-30: New Perspectives," at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1980. This museum gathered a large collection of Russian Avant-Garde works from museums throughout the Western world. Narration by Hugh Downs gives insight into both Russian history and the history of art in general, as well as Russian Avant-Garde art in particular (89 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. |
| Russian Ballet: The Glorious Tradition (1993) |
| Recommended because Captions in English. Recommended as a comprehensive collection of performances by many of the greatest ballet stars of this century. Composed of rare films never before seen outside of Russia, this three- volume retrospective is unique in its scope, revealing the technical and stylistic achievements of the foremost exponents of Russian dance. Volume I: 1971-91 Begins with a look at the artistry of the young Mikhail Baryshnikov just on the brink of his major international career in 1971. It concludes with the young Bolshoi ballerina Nadezda Gracheva. Other highlights include the brilliant "Le Corsaire" pas de deux danced by Nina Ananiashvili and Andris Liepa in their first commercially available video tape performance; the "Nutcracker" pas de deux with Igor Zelinsky; and a very rare "Swan Lake" pas de deux with one of the legends of Russian ballet, Alla Osipenko (65 minutes). Volume II: 1914-88 Traces the history of Russian ballet over a period of nearly seventy-five years. Drawing on archival material dating back to 1914, it begins with rare footage of Vera Karalli dancing the Dying Swan, and continues with films from the 1940s featuring Marina Semenova, Natalia Dudinskaya,a nd others. Moving through the decades, we see such legendary dancers as Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, and Mikhail Gabovich. The program is capped by the "Don Quixote" Act Three grand pas de deux, danced with breathtaking virtuosity by Ekaterina Maximova and Vladimir Vasiliev (71 minutes). Volume III: 1940-93 : Includes early footage of Galina Ulanova, Maya Plisetskaya, Natalia Makarova, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Yuri Soloviev. Two selections feature the artistry of Ekaterina Maximova, including an extended excerpt from "Giselle." Nadezhda Gracheva and Andrey Uvarov, two of the ballet world's current stars, are seen in the brilliant grand pas de deux from "Sleeping Beauty," which closes the program (67 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or each of the three tapes may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $40. |
| Russian Revolutions: Nightline (2000) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended as a documentary on contemporary Russia produced by ABC News "Nightline." Each program is 30 minutes long. Part I: Sexual Freedom--at a Price Part II: A Free Press--If You Can Afford It Part III: The Russian Army Fights for its Life Part IV: Crime, Corruption, and the High Price of Doing Business Part V: Boris Berezovsky: The Unseen Power Part VI: Vladimr Putin: The Man, The Legend Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Films for the Humanities for $230. |
| Sasha Litvin of Russia (1995) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a portrait of nine year-old Sasha who goes to a special school for the performing arts in St. Petersburg. This film follows Sasha in his daily activities, from the time he gets up in the morning, through his day at school and including sights of his city. An introduction to the geography and culture of St. Petersburg as shown through the life of a school boy (15 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute. | |||
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| Savoniha: A Siberian Old Believer (1997) |
| Recommended because Recommended as a good introduction to this unusual sect of the Russian Orthodox Church. Savoniha belongs to the "Old Believers," a sect of the Russian Orthodox Church that was exiled to Siberia many centuries ago. 95 years old, she witnessed Stalin's anti-religious campaign, losing her father -- one of the main spiritual representatives of the Siberian Old Believers (30 minutes). Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute. |
| Siberiade (1979) |
| Recommended because In Russian with English subtitles. Recommended as a dramatization of the history of Siberia from just before the outbreak of revolution in 1917 to the 1960s is dramatized in this film epic focusing on two families in a remote Siberian village. Elements of mysticism are mixed liberally with history, and ecology becomes a major theme in the second half of the film. Directed by Andrei Mikhailkov-Konchalovsky (204 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $25. |
| Stalin (1992) |
| Recommended because In English. Recommended because it is a good film biography of Soviet leader Josef Stalin. An international cast headed by Robert Duvall, authentic Russian locations and superb direction by the Czech emigre Ivan Passer are the hallmarks of this made-for-cable biography of Stalin. The film is an exploration of Stalin's iron-fisted rule. A bit simplistic, but this makes it more accessible, so it is suitable for secondary school classroom use (165 minutes). Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $20. |
| Stalin, Joseph (1999) |
| Recommended because Joseph Stalin held absolute power over the Soviet Union for 29 years. His legacy arguably surpasses even Hitler's -- he sent over 20 million of his own countrymen to their deaths! This comprehensive portrait is recommended because it revisits the life of Stalin through Soviet archival film and a collection of interviews. Biographers Robert Conquest and Edvard Radzinsky explore his disastrous reforms, including the collectivization of agriculture and his massive purges. Former interpreter Valentin Berezhkov offers a first-person view of the dictator, while purge victim Dr. Janusz Bardach talks about his time in the Gulag. And Mikhail Gorbachev explores the rise, rule and legacy of the most infamous of all his predecessors. Here is a history of one of the most important, compelling and hated men in history. USA (50 minutes). Available for purchase from International Historic Films for $20. |
| The Bratsk Sea (2001, 50 minutes) |
| Recommended because In English. This documentary is recommended because it looks at the social disaster that came along with the construction of a power plant in the city of Balagansk under the orders of the Soviet Union's Communist planners during the early '60s. Residents were sold on the project through propagandist news reporting, but the reality fell far short of the dream. The relocated residents found their new land had inferior soil, leading to farm production shortages, lack of water and other serious problems. Available for free loan from Indiana UniversityÂ’s Russian and East European Studies Institute or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $30. | |||
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| The Chekist (1992) |
| Recommended because In Russian with English subtitles. In 1917, secret police from the KGB forerunner, C.H.E.K.A., unleashed a reign of terror on all those considered enemies of the revolution. A Cheka officer interrogates, judges and then executes a wide variety of people who cannot fit into the new Soviet system, from Christians and Jews to former aristocrats. Very violent, but recommended because, unfortunately, also very realistic (165 minutes). Available for purchase from Facets Multimedia for $90. |
| The Facade of Power: Part 2 |
| Recommended because Here Russian architecture is examined, with a focus on St. Petersburg and Tsarskoe Selo. The program also looks at the writings of Gogol, who revealed the human suffering behind Russia's "Facade of Power." His Dead Souls first inspired 19th-century political radicals, then Soviet dissidents, and still influences Russian artists today (60 minutes). |
| The Face of Russia (1998) |
| Recommended because this is a very well made three-part documentary on Russian art and culture, written and hosted by James Billington, Librarian of Congress, and author of "The Icon and the Axe," a classic text on Russian culture. Each of the three epidsodes is described below. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $80 (for all three tapes). |
| The Face on the Firewood: Part 1 |
| Recommended because this is the first part of the excellent "Face of Russia" series. Icon painting, the first Russian art form, has survived and flourished during Russia's many times of troubles, including the devastating anti-clerical decrees wrought by Communism. This segment reveals the spiritual ideas that have animated Russia for 1,000 years and witnesses recent restorations of churches and monasteries from Kiev to the Kremlin (60 minutes). |
| The Fall of Berlin (1949) |
| Recommended because this is one of the all-time best examples of Soviet Socialist Realism on film, this movie gives the official Stalinist version of how the Soviets defeated the Germans in the Second World War. Contains rare portrayals of Stalin as the “Great Leader” wished himself to appear. Also featured is the story of a young Russian couple and how their lives are dramatically affected by the war. The model steel worker becomes an exemplary soldier and the school teacher is captured by the Germans and forced into slave labor. The film starts in the "happy" days just before the German invasion of June 22, 1941, portrays the battles of Moscow and Stalingrad, and ends only after the Soviet capture of the Reichstag in Berlin, and Stalin's triumphant entry into the city where he appears before a jubilant and adoring crowd in the film's final scene (approx 3 hours). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. | |||
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| The Hermitage: A Russian Odyssey (1994) |
| Recommended because this is a three-part Christian Science Monitor tour of the renowned Russian art museum in Saint Petersburg, providing a course in Russian history in the process. Narrated by Rod MacLeish. In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $80. Volume One -- Catherine the Great: A Lust for Art: With stunning art and dramatic readings from Catherine the Great's diaries, this program investigates a self-professed "glutton for beauty" who feasted daily on Rembrandts, Rubenses, and Brueghels. Like her predecessor Peter the Great, Catherine ruled Russia with an insatiable appetite for Western culture. She cunningly purchased massive art collections from Europe's monarch, then created the Hermitage Museum in the Winter Palace (1754062) to house her treasures. In less than 40 years she acquired more masterpieces than the Louvre had amassed in four centuries (54 minutes). Volume Two -- Tyrants and Heroes: The Nineteenth Century Czars : Covers the war against Napoleon when Russian officers lingered in Paris (1814-15), absorbing Western ideas and buying artwork; the autocratic reign of Nicholas I who fiercely repressed the people yet lavished money on the Hermitage; the progressive rule of Aleksandr II, which ended tragically in murder; and Alexander III's reign of terror (54 minutes). Volume Three -- From Czars to Commissars: A Museum Survives: The horrors of revolution and war play counterpoint to breathtaking works by Matisse, Renoir, and Picasso. When Nicholas II succumbed to the revolution and Lenin came to power, the Hermitage became the world's largest museum, increased by thousands of works previously held in private collections. In a shocking turn of events, Stalin, Lenin's successor, sold many of the museum's irreplaceable treasures for cash. Yet, the Hermitage survived Stalin, as well as World War II when two thirds of its collection were transported safely out of Leningrad before the Nazi siege. The program then moves forward chronologically through the decades leading to the fall of communism in Russia (55 minutes). |
| The Russian Federation: A Nation in Transition (1995) |
| Recommended because this video-based program is designed to acquaint students in grades 9-12 with life in the "New Russia." The program introduces the Russian Federation and its largest neighbor, Ukraine, through the eyes of four teenagers from Moscow, Kiev and St. Petersburg. Topics include: geography and weather, food, housing, family life, entertainment, school, the variety of people, politics, economics, friendships and an uncertain future. Also comes with a teacher's guide (22 minutes). Produced by New Leaf Media. Available for free loan from Indiana University's Russian and East European Studies Institute. |
| Tomorrow There Comes A War (Zavtra byla voina) (1987) I |
| Recommended because this is the story of a group of Russian high school students in a provincial city. The setting is the year 1940 and the idealistic young students must confront the paranoiac atmosphere that prevailed in the Soviet Union in the wake of the Great Purges. A well-made film, a poignant drama highly recommended for private viewing, but also well-suited for classroom use to give students a sense of life under the repressive Stalinist system. Also useful for showing that there were communists who were decent, idealistic, and good people in addition to those who were careerists, extremists, or just plan bad. Based on the story by Boris Vasiliev, directed by Yuri Kara (83 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. |
| Tsar Alexander the First |
| Recommended because this is a biography of Russian Tsar Alexander I, from the History Channel series, "The History Makers." The intelligent, but vain Alexander I became emperor of Russia after his father's murder in 1801. During the Napoleonic wars, Russian endured the invasion of 1812, then played a major role in defeating the French, securing Alexander's place in history (55 minutes). In English. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (tel: 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail), but apparently out of print. |
| War and Peace (Voina i mir) (1967) |
| Recommended because you should forget about the American version starring James Fonda! Five years in the making, this grand adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic won the 1968 Oscar for Best Foreign Film. With its cast of thousands and virtually unlimited budget, it is recommended because it vividly portrays Russia during the Napoloeonic era from 1805 to 1812, including the spectacular Battle of Borodino. Directed by Sergei Bondarchuk (403 minutes). In Russian with English subtitles. Available for free loan from the Ohio State University Center for Slavic and East European Studies (call 614-292-8770 or order it by e-mail) or may be purchased from Facets Multimedia for $100. | |||
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| Window to Paris (Okno v Parizh) (1992) |