Putin's Kiss

Verzio9 FF Submission. Duration: 01:25:00 Westerners may view Russia's newly elected president Vladimir Putin as an undemocratic tyrant, but to many Russians he embodies all the qualities of a strong and charismatic father figure. A whole new generation has been united in the patriotic youth mo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Other Authors: Pedersen, Lise Birk
Institution:Open Society Archives at Central European University
Language:Russian
Published: Faber, Helle 2011
Denmark
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10891/osa:d17c10f2-52e2-43a3-a133-f4174e7c16db
Description
Summary:Verzio9 FF Submission. Duration: 01:25:00 Westerners may view Russia's newly elected president Vladimir Putin as an undemocratic tyrant, but to many Russians he embodies all the qualities of a strong and charismatic father figure. A whole new generation has been united in the patriotic youth movement Nashi ("Ours"), which seeks to rid Russia of its "enemies." And quite naturally, these turn out to be anyone who does not support Putin and Prime Minister Medvedev. Masha, an intelligent 19-year-old, is the spokesperson for Nashi. She once kissed Putin on the cheek, and after that she made no secret of her adoration for this "Napoleon of the Kremlin." Until she came into contact with members of the liberal opposition, that is. Masha finds herself on the horns of a moral dilemma: does Nashi allow enough scope for her own opinions, or must she give herself completely to the will of "the party"? What follows is a coming-of-age documentary that also paints a grim picture of the Russian political climate. Open political debate is conspicuously absent, leaving no option but to take sides. Masha's kiss gradually transforms into a clenched fist.
Published:2011