TRW Human Relations ENPRO

Genre: Thematic Short Film
Format: PAL/SECAM, DV-Cam, DV-AVI
Runtime: 4:00 min
Languages: RU (orig.), EN
Series: "Eye Witnesses"

Topic: In the ’30s, the population of the U.S.S.R. was young. That generation was raised in accordance with the new system of values, they were told that there were enemies all around, and that inside the country there were also enemies who are hiding, disguised, so they saw exposing enemies of the government as a personal duty. Life in the U.S.S.R. brought out a sense of danger in people.

Plot: By nature men wants to help. This is seen often in situations where people arrived at their places of banishment. So called "criminals of the state" were treated like animals. Young people wanted to participates in the youth organizations but did not realize the danger the whole family could be exposed to because of their actions. People tried not to say one word too much in order to not become a suspect of some sort; accordingly the social interaction between people was restricted to the minimum indispensable. Every new person in the block became a potential suspect, and all neighbours tried to find out about him or her without becoming suspect themselves. This is the social environment in which our witnesses grew up and about which they give their testimonies.

The Series: Memories, if not captured on film, become more and more blurred over the years. That's why we took advantage of the occasion to interview those who really experienced the horrors of the Soviet regime either on their own skin or through experiences made by their relatives. About 50 hours of material of these "Children of the Gulag" are available in our archive for further development, and just a very small part is presented in this series. We deliberately abstained from any comment on what is said by the witnesses in order to let the spectator decide. These short films may be useful as support material in talk-shows or educational programs. Other themes may be developed in future.

Other short films of the series:

• A Glimpse of Happiness
• Born in Prison
• Citizens and Spies
• Faith in the Camp
• Feast Days
• Life in the Camps
• Persecuted Church
• Soviet Childhood
• Soviet Life
• The Man and the System
• Unjust Justice