Reviews
Dear Comrades!
Reviewed by Vaughan Ames
The film shows the events of June 1962 in Novocherkassk in Russia, where a demonstration against pay cuts and rising prices frightens the Soviet state to the very top. Khrushchev and his party apparatchiks were so scared they ordered the troops to fire, and, when they only fire into the air, KGB marksmen are sent in with hidden rifles, killing at least 26 people, possibly many more. They then set about ensuring no-one ever found out with mass arrests and death sentences, refusing to let anyone leave town, making people sign secrecy agreements, even relaying the asphalt in the town square to cover up the blood. It wasn't until 30 years later, when the Soviet Union was dissolved that the events were recognised, but no-one was held accountable as most had died.
Director Andrey Konchalovsky concentrates the plot around one minor party stalwart, Lyudmila Semina, to bring out the details, as she gradually loses faith in the system she supports when her daughter goes missing after the massacre. He also uses black and white, square format to make the whole thing feel like a Russian propaganda movie from the time, with the reversal of the message coming through beautifully.
There was much which seemed to hold good even today: the demo at the US senate last year kept coming to my mind; party workers drinking when the factory workers broke in brought thoughts of the Tories during Covid, and the whole coverup reminded me of Hillsborough; when will we ever learn?
Director Andrey Konchalovsky concentrates the plot around one minor party stalwart, Lyudmila Semina, to bring out the details, as she gradually loses faith in the system she supports when her daughter goes missing after the massacre. He also uses black and white, square format to make the whole thing feel like a Russian propaganda movie from the time, with the reversal of the message coming through beautifully.
There was much which seemed to hold good even today: the demo at the US senate last year kept coming to my mind; party workers drinking when the factory workers broke in brought thoughts of the Tories during Covid, and the whole coverup reminded me of Hillsborough; when will we ever learn?