My Perestroika

My Perestroika is a compelling documentary film that hit the big screen in 2010, directed by American filmmaker Robin Hessman, in her feature debut. The film offers a unique perspective into the last generation of Soviets who grew up behind the Iron Curtain and then experienced the transformative period of Perestroika. This generation bore witness to the fall of Soviet Union, the pivotal moment of transition to capitalism, and the resounding cultural adjustments that permeated through the lives of everyday citizens due to these political changes.

My Perestroika draws the viewer in by presenting intimate portraits of five distinct individuals: Ruslan, a Punk musician turned entrepreneur; Olga, a single mother; Andrei, a successful businessman; Borya and Lyuba, married history teachers. Despite the diversity in their contemporary lives, they all share the bond of being schoolmates and growing up together in Moscow, providing an eye-opening comparison of their individual trajectories since the dissolution of the USSR.

Hessman gently weaves archival footage with contemporary interviews, visually mapping the journey of the five protagonists from their happy, optimistic Soviet childhood to the challenges and opportunities they face in current-day Russia. The narrative doesn’t preach or voice strong political opinions but allows the personal stories, experiences, and reflections of these ordinary people to collectively bring to light the more significant socio-political shifts that have shaped them and their country.

One poignant aspect of the documentary is the exploration of the subjects' childhoods. Drawing upon personal family archives, attics full of toys, school uniforms, and old 8mm films, the film illustrates the ideological education in schools of socialist-patriotic upbringing, pioneers and Komsomol youth organizations, and the general climate of the Brezhnev era. The film stages a fascinating clash between memory and history, revealing how the shifting political tides dramatically evolved the landscapes in which these individuals came of age.

The film then proceeds to map the transitional times of the 80s and 90s and the seismic changes that affected the personal lives of these individuals. The participants reflect on the hopes, disillusionment, confusion, and complex emotions they experienced as the comfortable ideological frameworks of their childhood dissolved to give way to a new era of uncertainty and harsh market realities.

While My Perestroika has a distinct focus on the past, it is equally invested in the present and the future. It documents these five individuals’ present daily lives, their professions, their homes, their relationships with their children, and their hopes and apprehensions for what lies ahead. It shows the extent to which their lives have been shaped by historical events and underscores the shared yet diverse experiences that define this generation.

Hessman also explores the subjects' teaching of history to their children and students, in their own unique ways. This presents a stark contrast between the ideological education they received and the history they are now recounting. It inescapably highlights the complexities involved in passing on a contested and contested legacy to the next generation.

Furthermore, My Perestroika humanizes the historical narrative by delving thoughtfully into the lives of everyday Russian citizens, illustrating how the weight of history, politics, and ideological change interplay in shaping individual narratives. Weaved through these personal stories, the audience gets a glimpse into Russian society’s unique nuances, a society often mystified and misrepresented by western portrayals.

Ultimately, My Perestroika is not just about Russia. It resonates universally as an exploration of how our experiences of historical events shape us, how we navigate the space between public and private identities, and how individuals craft their understanding of the past to interpret the present and navigate the future.

To sum up, My Perestroika is a captivating piece of documentary filmmaking that shines a spotlight on the final generation of Soviet-born children and their transition into adulthood. Through intimate observations and nuanced perspectives, it offers a unique insight into contemporary Russia and underscores the significant influence of socio-political transformations on human lives.