1. Perestroika 1987 - 1991

2. Perestroika After Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko die in a quick succession, a new generation leader Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in 1985. Replaces old-style party bureaucrats, starts the policy of democratization and glasnost (openness and freedom of speech). Declares Perestroika (restructuring) in 1987, launches economic reforms (elements of market economy) and liberal freedoms.

3. Perestroika in cinema Relaxation of controls, appointment of a film director Elem Klimov as 1st sec of Filmmakers Union in May 1986. Practical end of party control. The influence of glasnost: raising questions of the past and the present: reassessment of history. Release of controversial films: Klimov’s Agony (about Rasputin; completed 1975), Aleksandr Askoldov’s Commissar (completed 1967).

4. Repentance, 1984 by Tengiz Abuladze Released in 1987; Cannes 1987 FIPRESCI prize, Grand Prize of the Jury and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. In Georgian, set in Georgia, but presents a generalized portrait of a dictator (Stalin+Beria +Hitler+Mussolini) Most famous quote: “What’s the use of a street if it doesn’t lead to a church?”

5. Come and See, 1985 by Elem Klimov WW II’s untold tragedy: the destruction of Belarus. Title quote from Apocalypse (Bible). Unheroic story of a witness and survivor. Unprecedented, horrifyingly realistic cruelty on screen.

6. Economics vs art Raising of unreal expectations. Financial self-reliance (khozrasshchet) Intellectuals dominated, believed in free market – but the market was elsewhere. 1988 Law on cooperatives. Profits, money- laundering. Co-productions with western organizations.

7. New reality of late 1980s Problem of distribution – no more Goskino. Impracticality of intellectuals. Flow of money from distribution to producer broken. Invasion of foreign films (frequently pirated) – with voice-over dubbing. Impact of (a) video and (b) TV (Mexican and Brazilian soap operas). Perestroika generates a tidal wave of trash.

8. “Chernukha” (Showing the seamy side of life The collapse of family; Immorality, unmotivated cruelty among average Soviet citizens; The death of former ideals; Cramped living conditions; Senseless hysterics; “Adult” scenes. Violence and obscenity of language (Horton and Brashinsky qtd in Little Vera by F.Beardow, 6-7).

9. Little Vera, 1988 by Vasili Pichul

10. Little Vera “What’s sensational about [the film] is that there’s nothing sensational in it” (qtd Beardow, 3). Most shocking film of the 1980s First erotic scene (1 min 20 sec) on the Soviet screen (viewers’ reaction) Starring: Natalia Negoda, Andrei Sokolov (no-name actors instantly turned stars) The young director’s (b.1961) home city (Zhdanov - Mariupol), his own life experience. The script by his wife Maria Khmelik. 50,000,000 viewers in first year: most debated.

11. Little Vera “The film is an attempt to come close to the abyss of our life today” (Pichul) Life away from the “glamour” of Moscow Challenging Soviet mythology: glorious, conscientious “proletariat,” happy young “builders of communism,” (model) family as a “unit of Soviet society”.

12. Viewer Reactions Shock at explicit sex scene (“There is no sex in the USSR”) Attempted rape, suicide Scourge of vodka Language (“mat”): cursing, swearing, different conversations at once, screaming to be heard Ironic repetition by young of Soviet clichés: “great Soviet feeling” (love), “fraternal Mongolia”

13. Little Vera The generation gap, clash of values Another “lost generation” (forced to be idle, cynical and hopeless) Vicious circle of life (the young destined to repeat the parents’ path) No privacy, no way to solve conflicts The meaning of the name: Vera=“faith”

14. The Family Lives in grimy industrial city in Eastern Ukraine Father Kolya truck driver Mother Rita works as dispatcher Son Victor is a doctor in Moscow, separated from wife and son Vera has applied to trade school, prefers to be a telephone operator

15. Main Events Vera abandons boyfriend Andrei, who becomes a sailor V. has an affair with Sergei; they agree to marry Sergei comes to live with the family Kolia slashes Sergei in drunken fight Sergei in hospital, accused of attacking Kolia Andrei shows up, tries to rape Vera V. takes pills and gin, attempts suicide Kolia has a heart attack and dies

16. Film structure Documentary-like opening long panning shot of an industrial landscape (repeated at end) String of “scandals”: dance; family receives Sergei; the picnic on the beach; Kolia’s birthday party; attempted suicide; no happy end Balcony as the place of family discussions Passing of trains as refrain

17. Camera and editing Grainy film stock suggests the effect of polluted air and hopelessness Extensive use of hand-held camera for indoor scenes Close-ups: emphasis on the characters Telling realistic details: industrial junk Ambient lighting (several scenes shot in almost complete darkness)