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In Reply to: RE: Is there a more fascinating country than Russia with its curious mixture of East and West? Chris Marker, posted by tinear on December 07, 2011 at 18:29:31
...have you read the Solzhenitsyn works?
I think Denisovich could be turned into a marvelous screenplay - no kidding. I am surprised no one has made it into a movie yet.
The Gulag Archipelago could be worked into a semi-documentary very nicely too... but I guess both would likely mean great loss on part of an investor. Such shame, as they represent wonderful vehicle for understanding our modern events.
Follow Ups:
"I'd like to own a squadron of tanks"
.
read another as soon as I finish struggling through the almost unreadable, "Ulysses." I would like to read a history of Stalin's reign; I saw another Russian documentary that touched on some of his henchmen, their lives, the impact of their barbarities. Trotsky also seems a fascinating character. Lenin, too. Some of the greatest cruelties are committed by those who wish to do good: they are the zealots that believe any sacrifice (of others, of course) is justified by the "cause."
I've always liked the Camus quote. When asked who was less moral, the guy who'd deprive you of food in the name of liberty or liberty in the name of food, "It's only a matter of which one to spit upon first."
Anyhow, Moscow and St. Petersburg look like the most amazing places on earth, urban-wise. And the Winter Palace looks positively stupendous--- and I've been several times to Versailles.
Edits: 12/07/11
In my view, the two books I mentioned are the only ones deserving the serious attention, they are far ahead of his other writing. The Gulag is a must.
Speaking of history of that period, we tend to concentrate on big characters, you mention Trotsky and he certainly deserves attention.
However... the true horror of the regime can be felt through examining the lives of its working bees.
There is a story of one such participant... the man looked like your average bookkeeper, wore round glasses and carried the usual briefcase with lunch inside... he went to work on Lubianka every morning, and every evening came back home for dinner.
Few people knew that his day consisted of shooting prisoners. On some day that meek looking guy killed up to 500 prisoners - there is no mistake in that number.
THIS is the true face of horror.
He died, BTW, peacefully, living quietly on his pension.
Anyway, you are right, visiting those cities would be quite interesting, must less Moscow than St. Petersburg, and the Hermitage and the city around it are truly unforgettable.
mention some high up guy who was a secretary of Stalin's. He indeed looked like an accountant, but was, if memory serves, a long-time secret police boss. Look at Himmler: he'd fit into anyone's bourgeois picture book.
The "average" guy certainly can become what we call a cold-blooded, mechanistic killer. From China to Russia to Germany to Chile and El Salvador and Cambodia, history shows mass murdering isn't the purview of the few, but rather of faceless multitudes exactly like your guy. And they function, day in and day out, heartlessly, because they're just "doing their job." No responsibility. Just cogs in their social machine.
To me, they're far scarier than any Hollywood-drama character with his leather mask and chainsaw.
Anyhow, Solshie is next on the list.
And consider this a second invitation to "Russian Empire." The host is something we don't have here: young, visibly enthusiastic, and highly intelligent. A delightful guide.
Too bad the Russians can't make a comedy out of their history...
your comment jarred my memory. I remember it had a surreal quality to it.
Was it about the feast in Georgia? I too forgot the name.
fds
...Heart of a Dog.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096126/
In that book Bulgakov pulled all the stops, and showed himself as world class master of satire... it is one of the most brilliant works of the Russian 20th century literature, and the film does that work justice with both directing and acting.
Take my word for it - that movie is special.
What... me paying ten bucks???
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HEART-DOG-1988-Mikhail-Bulgakov-DVD-NEW-/250644736630?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item3a5b972a76
DVD rental program.
BTW, I just got "Satantango" and "Damnation" from my public library. After "Werckmeister Harmonies," I just have a Tarr frame of mind and, though I tried to watch Kubrick's, "Lolita," yesterday, it just seemed too.... mannered. Back to grey Hungary, for me.
I recall seeing this somewhere.....
Also, Robards starred in a made-for-TV "Sakharov".
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