In the Wake of Stalin

The dictator Stalin is seen as one of the three most important historical figures in Russia. His spirit pervades Russia's political life today: the terror and the killing of millions have still not formally been condemned, and his ideas of a "Great Russia" and rejection of the West still enjoy popular support. Thomas Johnson, who worked for many years as journalist in the Soviet Union, tells us in voice-over about how Stalin’s terror has been covered up under a form of collective amnesia. He sets his film against a backdrop of historical images, archive footage and discussions with experts and survivors of the repressions. School history books play down the gulags, and the personality cult that surrounded Stalin is reflected in the PR of current Russian President Putin. One of the experts points out that uncertainty in times of crisis makes Russians look back with nostalgia at the Great Patriotic War (as World War II is still known in Russia), which was won during Stalin’s reign. Recent events such as the conviction of the band Pussy Riot and the brutal repression of demonstrations for democracy show that Stalin's myth is alive and well. Forgetfulness concerning the reign of terror imposed by the dictator, who died 60 years ago, is casting contemporary Russian politics in a disturbing light.