Doug
--- As people are no doubt aware, Russia celebrated the 60th anniversary of the lifting of the Siege of Leningrad yesterday. I saw part of the celebrations on TV. Putin lay flowers and discussed his parents' experiences during the seige; then mentioned his older brother who died in childhood there. It was actually quite touching. Then he met with vets who complained to him about the sex and violence they're showing young people on TV.
A while ago there was a threat on here about Soviet "kitsch." I should have mentioned one very non-kitschy Soviet genre: The WWII movie. The USSR had kick-ass war movies. I caught one on TV last night (about the blockade, obviously) that rocked. It also was the first and only time I have ever seen Stalin depicted on screen in any movie, Soviet or otherwise. He was presented in very un-vozhd-like fashion as having royally fucked up in having trusted Hitler - and even admitting it!
Come to think of it, the USSR also had very funny comedies.
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