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Dear Colleagues, For those of you who are registered to attend the annual convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies in Boston, the Davis Center is hosting a special sneak preview of the feature documentary film, My Perestroika. The screening will be followed by a brief Q & A with filmmaker Robin Hessman. Afterwards, filmgoers are invited to attend the Davis Center’s reception for alumni and friends. If you miss this sneak preview opportunity, please note that My Perestroika is slated for broadcast in 2011 on the PBS series POV to mark the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the USSR. I hope you’ll be able to join us on the 13th. Sincerely, Lisbeth L. Tarlow Associate Director Davis Center for Russian & Eurasian Studies Harvard University *** Sneak Preview of My Perestroika Q & A with Filmmaker Robin Hessman Friday, November 13 7:00 PM, Grand Ballroom Salons H and I Reception to follow in Grand Ballroom Salons J and K Both events take place in the convention hotel. The screening and reception are open to all registered AAASS convention-goers. *** ABOUT THE FILM: My Perestroika (running time ~90 minutes) tells the story of five people from the last generation of Soviet children brought up behind the Iron Curtain. Just coming of age when the USSR collapsed, they witnessed the world of their childhood crumble and change beyond recognition. The film explores the lives and personal stories of a married couple, both history teachers, and three of their childhood friends, revealing how they are adjusting to their post-Soviet reality in today's Moscow. Using a wealth of footage rarely seen outside of Russia--including extensive home movies from the 1970s--My Perestroika intercuts an intimate view of the past with the contemporary lives of these former schoolmates, weaving their voices to map the contours of a nation still very much in transition. PRAISE FOR MY PERESTROIKA: My Perestroika is a wonderful film. It asks, "What has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union? Has anything really changed?" We get different answers from the people we've gotten to know well in the film. Because filmmaker Robin Hessman knows Russia and its people so well, the viewer strongly identifies with all the film’s central characters. A real view from inside, completely natural and real, it vividly portrays history up close and personal. The montaged juxtapositions of past and present are beautifully done. The home movies of the heroes’ childhood and the soundtrack music, composed of popular songs for children from the 70’s and 80’s, add to the authenticity of this fine documentary. -Jane Taubman, Professor of Russian, Amherst College ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: Robin Hessman graduated from Brown University with a dual degree in Russian and film. She received her graduate degree in film directing from the All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow (with a “red diploma,” or honors). She received an Academy Award in 1994 (with co-director James Longley) for their student film, Portrait of Boy with Dog. During her eight years living in Russia, Robin worked for the Children’s Television Workshop as the on-site producer of Ulitsa Sezam, the original Russian language Sesame Street. In 2005 she was named Filmmaker in Residence at WGBH, Boston to develop My Perestroika. Robin is also an associate of Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian Studies and a term member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Since 2006, Robin has served as the director of documentary programming for Amfest, the American Film Festival in Moscow.
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