A History of Daily Life Behind the Iron Curtain
May 20th 2010 15:25
Original Creative Writing:
The Lost World of Communism
The Lost World of Communism
A History of Daily Life Behind the Iron Curtain
It's been over twenty years since the fall of communism. Euphoric footage of celebrating freedom was replayed on news bulletins and splashed across newspapers as A Very Good Thing.
I was an idealistic sixteen when the Berlin Wall came down and thought it was the end of all trouble for the people of the Eastern Block. For the next week or so we all did, then we forgot about it. The BBC series, The Lost World of Communism - A History of Daily Life Behind the Iron Curtin, takes us back.
The three episodes in this series examine life under the communist regime in East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania. The doom and gloom I'd expected is certainly there, but it is mixed with surprising nostalgia.
For example, East Germans speak with great affection about a children's animated propaganda character called Sandman whose weekly show taught ideal socialist principals. (Imagine Thunderbirds installing rainwater tanks and turning around asylum seekers, and you're halfway there.)
People from all three countries remember the days of guaranteed employment, welfare and a feeling of camaraderie.
Rarely seen footage is mixed with interviews to contrast life before and after and to show aspects of life perhaps not previously considered. Artists suppressed at the time tell their fascinating stories of beating, and being beaten by, the system. And of just being beaten. Indeed, artistic expression is a common thread throughout all three episodes as a rebellion against a ruling party determined to suppress the soul of the nation.
When watching the cheerful and brightly-coloured propaganda films, it's easy to wonder What were you thinking? It's hard to believe anyone could take part in, let alone swallow this kind of blind patriotism. Even the people involved agree in hindsight.
Home movies from the time also show an element of propaganda; a hausfrau proudly vacuums with her brand new East German-produced vacuum cleaner. (They also show a bewildering amount of nudity- it's the prudish west who could be accused of suppression!) But discontent, heartbreak and repression were not long in coming.
The filmmaker, Peter Molloy, provides interviews with former communist officials who speak with astonishing honesty. The account of the assassinator of mad Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu is mixed with footage of the actual shooting. East German friends speak of spying and reporting on each other. Party members and leaders admit their own fear within the system.
It is shown that daily life behind the Iron Curtain could be frightening and difficult. Repercussions are still felt today. For people like myself who celebrated and then forgot about the former communist countries, this series provides a fascinating look at life during that time. (Scenes from the 1980's look like the 1950's) It certainly wasn't all beer and pretzels, but neither have the people since just got on with being happy little imperialists.
You will learn some surprising stories about living under communist rule.
Review by Andra Lewis
A History of Daily Life Behind the Iron Curtain
It's been over twenty years since the fall of communism. Euphoric footage of celebrating freedom was replayed on news bulletins and splashed across newspapers as A Very Good Thing.
I was an idealistic sixteen when the Berlin Wall came down and thought it was the end of all trouble for the people of the Eastern Block. For the next week or so we all did, then we forgot about it. The BBC series, The Lost World of Communism - A History of Daily Life Behind the Iron Curtin, takes us back.
The three episodes in this series examine life under the communist regime in East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Romania. The doom and gloom I'd expected is certainly there, but it is mixed with surprising nostalgia.
For example, East Germans speak with great affection about a children's animated propaganda character called Sandman whose weekly show taught ideal socialist principals. (Imagine Thunderbirds installing rainwater tanks and turning around asylum seekers, and you're halfway there.)
People from all three countries remember the days of guaranteed employment, welfare and a feeling of camaraderie.
Rarely seen footage is mixed with interviews to contrast life before and after and to show aspects of life perhaps not previously considered. Artists suppressed at the time tell their fascinating stories of beating, and being beaten by, the system. And of just being beaten. Indeed, artistic expression is a common thread throughout all three episodes as a rebellion against a ruling party determined to suppress the soul of the nation.
When watching the cheerful and brightly-coloured propaganda films, it's easy to wonder What were you thinking? It's hard to believe anyone could take part in, let alone swallow this kind of blind patriotism. Even the people involved agree in hindsight.
Home movies from the time also show an element of propaganda; a hausfrau proudly vacuums with her brand new East German-produced vacuum cleaner. (They also show a bewildering amount of nudity- it's the prudish west who could be accused of suppression!) But discontent, heartbreak and repression were not long in coming.
It is shown that daily life behind the Iron Curtain could be frightening and difficult. Repercussions are still felt today. For people like myself who celebrated and then forgot about the former communist countries, this series provides a fascinating look at life during that time. (Scenes from the 1980's look like the 1950's) It certainly wasn't all beer and pretzels, but neither have the people since just got on with being happy little imperialists.
You will learn some surprising stories about living under communist rule.
Review by Andra Lewis
| 88 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
David Jobling
