December 13, 2003
IF YOU'RE HEADED TO THE MOVIE STORE:
Colson's List of 50 Insightful Films (BreakPoint Online)
This list was compiled in 1997. Not all films are suitable for all audiences; see the notes with each for disclaimers. [...]13. Repentance [Monanieba] (1987, PG). This film was banned in the Soviet Union. Ted Baehr's MovieGuide says: "Repentance is the movie that destroyed Communism. This ... magnificent movie exposes the evils of communism ... while lifting up the suffering Church and the triumphant, eternal Church of Christ Jesus." (In Russian with English subtitles.) (directed by Tenghiz Abuladze)
This one is unfamiliar--anyone seen it? Posted by Orrin Judd at December 13, 2003 06:25 PM
I haven't seen it myself, but it's famous. The movie is an extremely powerful dissection of Stalinism, and its approval to be shown in Soviet theatres was a major milestone in the collapse of the communist system. IIRC, it was Gorbachev himself who approved the film to be shown; I will have to check the histories of the period - but all agree that "Repentance" was a key event.
Posted by: Joe at December 13, 2003 08:52 PMI've seen it twice and it was even better the second time. It should be of interest to anyone concerned with Stalinism. By using a powerful metaphor, the director makes the tyrrany clearer than would verbal exposition. When this film opened, many Soviet theatres went on a 24-hour schedule ro accommodate the vast numbers of people who could scarcely believe such things were being shown openly.
Posted by: Bernard at December 13, 2003 11:33 PMThanks! Netflix has it, so I just added it to my queue.
Posted by: oj at December 14, 2003 12:08 AM