30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces
- История
- 25 episodes
- 2021
The documentary project 30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces is a collection of interviews with well-known politicians, cultural figures, and athletes who lived and worked in Soviet times. Witnesses of the USSR’s collapse discuss the causes of the Soviet Union’s demise, share memories of the events of 1991, and assess the processes occurring in the country at that time. Special attention is given to the signing of the Belovezh Accords in December 1991. For the first time, unique interviews with all participants of the meeting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha are presented, including eyewitnesses and the reserve's staff. The series includes interviews with leaders of most Soviet republics who, after 1991, became presidents of independent states; they describe events in the CIS countries in the 1990s and evaluate the Soviet period in their peoples’ histories. The cycle consists of 25 episodes, each lasting 26 minutes. Each interview is illustrated with archival newsreel and photographs.
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Rustam Sagdullaev Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
<html>During Soviet times, Rustam Sagdullaev was the face of Uzbek cinema. After the release of the film <i>Only Old Men Are Going to Battle</i>, he became beloved throughout the entire country. He worked at every film studio in Uzbekistan. To this day, Rustam Sagdullaev maintains personal ties with his colleagues. However, the great era of Soviet cinema disappeared as a result of the breakup.</html>
Emomali Rahmon. Saparmurat Niyazov Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Two presidents of Central Asian republics: Emomali Rahmon, the president of Tajikistan, and Saparmurat Niyazov, the former president of Turkmenistan. Emomali Rahmon's republic was among the first to face the consequences of the USSR’s collapse — civil war, a shattered economy, and social problems. An open interview with Emomali Rahmon explores how the republic survived those difficult times. Saparmurat Niyazov, who granted an exclusive interview for the film, discusses how Turkmenistan began its independent life after 1991, which Soviet traditions remain in the country, and the possible paths the republic might have taken.
Kakhi Kavsadze Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
<html>The film <i>White Sun of the Desert</i> made him famous throughout the Soviet Union. Later there would be other starring roles, such as Don Quixote. Kakhi Kavsadze would become one of Georgia’s most sought-after actors. He acted at the Georgia-Film studio and at other well-known national studios. Today, Georgian cinema practically does not exist.</html>
Islam Karimov Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Islam Karimov, the first president of Uzbekistan, built an impressive party career during Soviet times. Does he regret his country's breakup, or does he realize the opportunities that independence offers and the cost people will have to pay? This is one of the most candid and rare interviews with the politician.
Yevgeny Shaposhnikov. Yegor Gaidar Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Yevgeny Shaposhnikov, the last USSR Defense Minister, witnessed the Soviet Union’s final weeks. Could the situation have been held together? How did the army react to the Belovezhye agreements? How did the military leaders assess the behaviour of the new politicians elevated by history to the pinnacle of power? Yegor Gaidar — a man who clearly remembered how the main documents of the Belovezhye agreements were written and how the red flag was lowered in the Kremlin— his time was coming. The film contains the most candid interview with this controversial politician.
Gennady Burbulis Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Politician Gennady Burbulis is considered an architect of the Belovezhye agreements. Although in his monologue he states that they did not intend to sign the Soviet Union’s death sentence there, but rather planned to discuss future cooperation among the republics, he believes: “This is a case where we bear responsibility for subsequent clumsiness, perhaps awkwardness, perhaps even laziness or complacency — already evident in the work on the results of the Belovezhye agreement, but in no way for its own assessment”.
Chingiz Aitmatov. Part Two. Askar Akayev Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Continuation of Chingiz Aitmatov’s account. The great prophetic writer foresaw the geopolitical drama — the USSR’s breakup — in his later novels. His biography exemplifies open opportunities; his print runs exceeded millions, and he was elected to all the top literary positions. Aitmatov sincerely believes that history never repeats itself and wonders whether the great Soviet culture could be revived. Askar Akayev, a scientist who became president during perestroika, admits that the Soviet period was, for Kyrgyzstan and the Kyrgyz people, certainly one of the brightest periods in the country’s history. Regarding the USSR’s breakup, he responds with a quote: “If you shoot at the past with a pistol, the future will fire back at you with a cannon”.
Employees of Viskuli Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Stepan Martysiuk. In 1991, he was director of the Viskuli residence in the Belovezhye Forest. He saw many Soviet leaders — from Khrushchev to Yeltsin. He did not know he would witness this dramatic event. What details does only he know? We will learn all about it from his account.
Alexander Lukashenko Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
It's 1991. Alexander Lukashenko is a deputy of the Supreme Council of the Belarusian SSR. He was among those who forcefully spoke from the Supreme Council tribune against the Belovezhye Agreement. Here is how it happened — in the words of Belarus’s president, Alexander Lukashenko.
Leonid Kravchuk. Part Four Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Continuation of Leonid Kravchuk’s monologue, entirely dedicated to the events of a single day — December 8, 1991, the day the Belovezhye agreement was signed.
Leonid Kravchuk. Part Three Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
This monologue by Leonid Kravchuk is entirely dedicated to the events of a single day — December 8, 1991, the day the Belovezhye agreement was signed.
Leonid Kravchuk. Part Two Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
The first president of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, recounts the preparation of the Union treaty. His stance during the days of the GKChP. New details.
Mikhail Gorbachev. Part Two Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Continuation of the monologue by Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and only president of the USSR. He reflects on how the meeting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha among the three republican leaders was prepared behind his back, and explains why he chose not to act — citing the danger of the country's breakup. This candid account includes little-known details. Gorbachev shares the story of preparations at Novo-Ogaryovo for the Union Treaty. Could things have gone differently? Here are some of Gorbachev's reflections and speculations.
Stanislav Shushkevich. Part Two Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
The leader of Belarus in the 1990s became a participant and one of the organizers of the meeting in the Belovezhye Forest. Many details remain unknown to this day. Perhaps they will become clear from Stanislav Shushkevich’s monologue. The intrigue is on.
Stanislav Shushkevich. Part One Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
The leader of Belarus in the 1990s became a participant and one of the organizers of the meeting in the Belovezhye Forest. Many details remain unknown to this day. Perhaps they will become clear from Stanislav Shushkevich’s monologue. The intrigue is on.
Algirdas Brazauskas. Rimas Kurtinaitis Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Algirdas Brazauskas, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania, and the outstanding basketball player Rimas Kurtinaitis. What did Soviet rule bring to Lithuania? Why does independent Lithuania seem to lag in comparisons? Algirdas Brazauskas later became the president of independent Lithuania and managed industry during Soviet times. Independence does not always guarantee prosperity. The USSR helped make Rimas Kurtinaitis an Olympic champion and opened the way to top clubs worldwide. Today, Lithuanian basketball ranks among the weaker tiers.
Leonid Kravchuk. Part One Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
The first president of independent Ukraine and a participant in the Belovezhye Agreement recalls the 1980s–90s era. From party official to the man who signed the USSR’s death sentence. Does he regret it?
David Kipiani Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Why did Soviet fans love Georgian football? For its bright stars. David Kipiani was one of them. He was one of the architects of the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup victory in 1981. It was a triumph for all Soviet football. Did football benefit from the USSR’s breakup?
Chingiz Aitmatov. Part One Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
Chingiz Aitmatov. The great prophetic writer. In his final novels he sensed the geopolitical drama — the USSR’s breakup. His biography exemplifies the opportunities that opened up. His print runs exceeded millions; he was elected to all the highest literary posts. Aitmatov sincerely believes that history never returns, and wonders whether the great Soviet culture can be revived.
Donatas Banionis Dubbing on request
30 Years Since the Collapse of the USSR. History in Faces • 2021 • 26 minutes
People’s Artist of the USSR, decorated and titled, coming from a tailor’s family, he experienced life in bourgeois Lithuania. He is a witness to his times. Banionis confirms that national art truly blossomed under Soviet rule. Top directors invited Banionis to act. In the new Lithuania, all of this remains in memories.