Today, alcohol consumption in Russia remains the highest in the world. The high volumes of alcohol consumption have resulted in serious consequences socially, politically and economically. The public health ramifications have been an ever going issue throughout the years and has led to alcoholism to be thought of as a ‘national disaster’. In the 1970’s, alcoholism had been linked to high rates of child abuse, suicide, divorce and a rise of mortality rates, especially among males. It was estimated the two-thirds of murders and violent crimes were committed by intoxicated individuals in 1980 and the death toll from drunk drivers was on an incline. The problem ultimately stemmed from the idea that drinking was seen as a pervasive, socially acceptable behavior in society.¹ Consumption of alcohol holds deep cultural roots in Russia, it often accompanied an array of celebrations, indicated hospitality and created bonds between individuals. It was a source of revenue for the Soviet state, which created tremendous income and was exercised as a monopoly on it’s production and distribution.¹ With the negative ramifications growing and society being impacted as a whole, Mikhail Gorbachev thought he had the solution.

Mikhail Gorbachev was not only known as the General Secretary but became known as the ‘mineral’nyi sekretar’ (mineral-water-drinking secretary).¹ In May of 1985, less than two months after becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party, Gorbachev launched a campaign against alcohol abuse. It introduced ‘partial prohibition’, the prices of vodka, wine and beer were increased and their sales were restricted to certain times of the day.² It also included limiting the kinds of shops that were permitted to sell alcohol which resulted in the closings of distilleries and vineyards. Even official Soviet receptions became alcohol-free events. Ultimately, the campaign had an effect on alcoholism country wide. It improved quality of life measures however it was very unpopular among the population.

Economically it was detrimental to the state budget since the alcohol production migrated to the black market. It also contributed to the sharp increase in the production of moonshine and the use of more dangerous substances.² The decline in state revenue created a major budgetary imbalance that led to printing more money which fueled inflation.¹ Eventually all these reasons led to the campaign being abandoned after 1987 and the legal use of alcohol being reintroduced.

¹ “Anti-Alcohol Campaign.” Seventeen Moments in Soviet History, 2 Sept. 2015, soviethistory.msu.edu/1985-2/anti-alcohol-campaign/.

² Vasinsky, A. “WHO PERMITTED THE PROHIBITION?-POLEMICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE FORBIDDANCE COMPLEX.” EVXpress – WHO PERMITTED THE PROHIBITION?-POLEMICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE FORBIDDANCE COMPLEX –  Current Digest of the Russian Press, The ,  1987 , No. 52, Vol. 38, dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/19994679.

Cover photo: Anti-Alcohol Campaign Poster “Socially Harmful”

reference video to title of blog post

During the post-war years in Soviet Russia the works of the cinema was a distraction to the deep wounds left from the war. Seldom were their films about war and the ones that were, focused on leaders and little on soldiers. What was portrayed on screen was vastly different than what was seen on the front line, leaving viewers with no reflection of real life experience. Often films pretended that the war never occurred, showing a world of tranquility, where men and women created strong, healthy families. A common character trend was that of the Russian men and women behaving honorably, fighting courageously and obeying silently.¹ Even documentaries, although responding to the most outstanding events, gave a pale reflection of the variety of facts and events in Soviet life.³ The death of Stalin and the public disparage of his image by Nikita Khrushchev gave filmmakers the margin of comfort they needed to move away from the narrow stories of socialist realism and begin to expand it’s boundaries to a winder range of artistic Soviet films.²

Ivan Pyriev’s notorious Cossacks of the Kuban, fell under the notions of film constraints. The rare war film displayed a false sense of war and home. The colorful film glorified the life of farmers of the Soviet Union’s Kuban region, disregarding the full impact of the war.¹ Both, The Battle of Stalingrad directed by Vladimir Petrov and The Fall of Berlin directed by Georgian Mikhail Chuareli, culminated the same theme. All three films were released from 1948-1950, before the shift in views and regulations on Soviet films.¹

In 1953, Soviet writers and artist recognized a ‘thaw’ in the culture of political party’s. Khrushchev gave the people a sense of new found freedom, especially in the creative realm.² The film industry increased productivity in the more tolerant climate and ultimately thrived.² Eventually, Soviet film artist were pushed to reenter the international film industry and even began to import foreign films for domestic release. This resulted in a gradual production of new films throughout the upcoming decade.

The Soldier Ivan Brovkin was directed by Ivan Lukinskii and released in 1955, being the first film to breakthrough postwar taboos. It conveyed the story of a young Russian boy drafted into the war through lyrical performance.¹ The film evaluated the war but on a level that let common viewers understand the true pain it presented. In 1959, the film Ballad of a Solider followed a similar story line, displaying a young boy on leave from war to convey the true tragedy of it.¹ This was the start of the introduction to the new Soviet film era. Without the restraints from existing power, the true ‘war story’ was on big screens.

Eventually censorship was renewed, nonetheless the breakthrough in the Soviet film industry not only entertained but also informed, showing people the true meaning and impact of war.

 

1. “War Films.” Seventeen Moments in Soviet History, 21 May 2017, soviethistory.msu.edu/1956-2/war-films/.
2. Freeze, Gregory L. Russia: a History. Oxford University Press, 2009.
3. Pudovkin, Vsevolod. “CONCERNING DOCUMENTARY FILMS.-NOTES OF A FILM PRODUCE.” EVXpress – CONCERNING DOCUMENTARY FILMS.-Notes of a Film Produce –  Current Digest of the Russian Press, The ,  1953 , No. 20, Vol. 5, SovietCurrent Digest of the Russian Press, dlib.eastview.com/browse/doc/13833553.

Featured Picture: An illustration of Kinopanorama from a Soviet magazine published in 1959.