Sunday Screening – Russia 88

Russia 88 is docudrama that takes you into the world of Russian neo-Nazis. The film is based around real events and makes use of authentic interviews. Many scenarios within the film were taken directly from police reports from Vladivostok, St. Petersburg and many other cities in Russia.

The story centres around a fictional gang of Moscow skinheads called “Russia 88”. After deciding to create propaganda videos to post on the internet the gang soon become confident around the camera, which gives an insight into their lives.

The leader of the Russia 88 finds out that his sister is seeing a boy from the Caucasus, which results in a ‘Romeo and Juliet’-esque family drama.

Filmmaker Pavel Bardin wanted to expose a phenomenon within Moscow that is largely ignored by the West. Gathering authentic clothing and music from stores in Moscow he has created a realistic depiction of this issue.

Open Democracy’s article on the film and the reaction in Russia is here

Directed by Pavel Bardin
2009
104 min

Official selection Berlinale 2009

Special jury prize and the Prize of critics at the festival “Spirit of Fire”