Uploaded May 2009 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is part a film about Gorbachev that was an effort to launch (in today's parlance) the Gorby brand on the world around 1986. Bundled with Gorbachev was the idea of "new" Soviet Union that was more relaxed, tolerant and progressive. The Russian buzz words were glasnost ("openness") and perestroika ("restructuring").
Though charming in many ways, this film retains the stilted qualities that were signatures of the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War. It's most evident in the narration but also permeates the music, the weird visual effects and the worshipful-heroic tone. Compared to a Stalinist film I'm sure this was groovy Austin Powers.
For baby-boomers used to really stiff Soviet leaders, Gorby was pure charisma. Strange that the mentor who picked him out of the chorus-line was Yuri Andropov, ex-KBG and ahh.. very old school. Enjoy this time capsule, I'll post more if I can find it.
This is part a film about Gorbachev that was an effort to launch (in today's parlance) the Gorby brand on the world around 1986. Bundled with Gorbachev was the idea of "new" Soviet Union that was more relaxed, tolerant and progressive. The Russian buzz words were glasnost ("openness") and perestroika ("restructuring").
Though charming in many ways, this film retains the stilted qualities that were signatures of the Soviet Bloc during the Cold War. It's most evident in the narration but also permeates the music, the weird visual effects and the worshipful-heroic tone. Compared to a Stalinist film I'm sure this was groovy Austin Powers.
For baby-boomers used to really stiff Soviet leaders, Gorby was pure charisma. Strange that the mentor who picked him out of the chorus-line was Yuri Andropov, ex-KBG and ahh.. very old school. Enjoy this time capsule, I'll post more if I can find it.
