Hello Do You Hear Us?

Synopsis

An insight into the Soviet Union’s problems in the late 1980s, stressing the difficulties of Gorbachev’s position during that time, the forces that led to the 1991 coup and the rise of nationalism within the USSR.
1: Includes footage of the bloody unrest among the Mhesks in Uzbekistan, emotional film of the survivors of the Armenian earthquake, unique film of Chernobyl where people are illegally returning to their homes in the still radioactive zone, and interviews with angry workers in Yaroslav engine factory where one of the first strikes in recent decades took place.
2: The 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Russia marks a rebirth. Andrei Sahkarov is interviewed just before his death about his beliefs and the dissident movement of the 1970s, and he addresses the Supreme Soviet on the rights of nationalities. Examines the history behind the forces of nationalism in Latvia and the Armenian/Azerbaidjani conflict in Nagorno Karabakh, including film of the first demonstrations against Soviet power.
3: Shows the disaffection among young people that recalls the late 1960s and early 1970s in the West. The Afghan War traumatised a generation and its veterans feel forgotten after a war that others say was fought for nothing. Interviews with young intellectuals, hippies, bikers, punk rockers, members of the Popular Front and of ‘Memory’, which is accused of being fascistic, its members believing in a masonic/cosmopolitan conspiracy.
4: Follows three people who attempted to expose scandals at great personal risk, taking on the bureaucratic mafia, the ‘wall’. In Uzbekistan a wife in an unhappy arranged marriage burns herself to death, there are 2500 similar suicides each year. A bride whose husband says she wasn’t a virgin is expected to burn herself too but she decides to fight for justice, but no-one supports her. Pollution from a chemical plant causes the immune system to break down, a doctor’s campaign to uncover the truth results in his dismissal in the face of official refusal to admit there is any problem, but people take to the streets to demand the factory’s closure. There is an extended interview with Boris Yeltsin who explains how the ‘system’ worked and why it was difficult to take it on and why and how he finally did so.
5: Includes footage of the nationalism and other inter-ethnic conflict which were to tear the Soviet Union apart. Looks at various political groupings and nationalist individuals in Latvia and the movement for independence. Most of the film was shot at the height of the inter-ethnic violence in Nagorno Karabakh and looks at its causes, aftermath and the political fall-out. Some see the conflict in international terms as between a Christian enclave surrounded by hostile Muslim states inside and outside the Soviet Union.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. col. 5 x 52 min.

Year of production

1989

Availability

out of distribution; 1997 sale: £25.00 (+VAT +p&p) each 1997 sale: £100.00 (+VAT +p&p) set

Notes

Broadcast on C4 from 3/2/91.

Subjects

History

Keywords

Armenia; Chernobyl; history of the 20th century; Latvia; Sakharov, Andrei; Soviet Union; Uzbekistan

Credits

Director

Yuris Podnieks

Producer

Yuris Podnieks

Sections

Title

Red hot

Synopsis

1: Includes footage of the bloody unrest among the Mhesks in Uzbekistan, emotional film of the survivors of the Armenian earthquake, unique film of Chernobyl where people are illegally returning to their homes in the still radioactive zone, and interviews

Title

Awakenings 1

Synopsis

2: The 1000th anniversary of Christianity in Russia marks a rebirth. Andrei Sahkarov is interviewed just before his death about his beliefs and the dissident movement of the 1970s, and he addresses the Supreme Soviet on the rights of nationalities. Examin

Title

Them and us

Synopsis

3: Shows the disaffection among young people that recalls the late 1960s and early 1970s in the West. The Afghan War traumatised a generation and its veterans feel forgotten after a war that others say was fought for nothing. Interviews with young intelle

Title

Wall, The

Synopsis

4: Follows three people who attempted to expose scandals at great personal risk, taking on the bureaucratic mafia, the 'wall'. In Uzbekistan a wife in an unhappy arranged marriage burns herself to death, there are 2500 similar suicides each year. A bride

Title

Face to face

Synopsis

5: Includes footage of the nationalism and other inter-ethnic conflict which were to tear the Soviet Union apart. Looks at various political groupings and nationalist individuals in Latvia and the movement for independence. Most of the film was shot at th

Production Company

Name

Central Independent Television

Notes

use Carlton UK Television

Distributor

Name

Carlton UK Television Ltd

Web

http://www.carlton.com External site opens in new window

Phone

0115 986 3322

Fax

0115 964 5202

Address

Video Resources Unit
East Midlands TV Centre
Lenton Lane
Nottingham
NG7 2NA