Russian Lessons (2010) User Reviews

did Russian tank really bombed beslan school?

[seamouse · 7/10 · 31 March 2010]

it's totally shocked me

even i had believed that i know a lot about the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

including early and recent war between Georgia and Abkhazia and south Ossetia.

especially those new saying about Beslan school accident.

i should create a chance to ask my doubt to director.cause i worried about the truth from the documentary may not the real truth.

it's so easy to make a documentary become propaganda in the news world today. Putin and Russian main media can made it, why not Georgian can't made it? so before everything clear, i just give it 7 point

An extremely important and courageous film

[Anna_Avramenko · 3 July 2010]

Like one of the other reviewers, I can't say enough to describe the film's brilliance and it's effect on me.

I disagree that a "call to arms" is missing from the film. It is investigative journalism, information. Of course it's subjective too. How can any film not be subjective to some extent? But that's what I believe to be the aim of this film: to inform us of the truth that was hidden from us by Russian propaganda, by Western laziness and economic interests. It is then up to us, viewers, citizens of the world, to decide what we do with this complex web of information, how we act.

I applaud the filmmakers' efforts, courage, their unrelenting belief in the right thing to do.

I hope that more and more Russians and citizens of the western world are ready to watch this film: To face the truth about these incidents and their implications. To learn these lessons.

this documentary was disturbing for the right reasons

[philosophysteve · 10/10 · 1 February 2010]

My review after seeing this film at Sundance 2010: This film was truly profound. It represents a kind of investigative journalism I've never before witnessed. It was moving, disturbing, eye- opening, compelling, gripping... the list of descriptive desirables appropriate for this film goes on. It is a long film, but it does a monumental kind of work. It's an anti-propaganda propaganda film that is worth everyone's time. I can't say enough about this documentary - it's very easily the best of the eight sundance films i've seen this year. In terms of its effects on me personally, it is on par with Schindler's List. There are very few movies out there that I can say either (1) changed the way I will watch every movie for the rest of my life, and (2) changed the way that I see the world. Russian Lessons has done both in one go.

Misleading and incomplete information

[jribarov · 3/10 · 6 April 2011]

The movie contains some unique glimpses in the conflict between Russia and Georgia. The personal approach is very strong, you can easily get into the shoes of the local people. What I really miss is a whole and complete story of a conflict, where not only Georgians and Russians were involved. What about the view of the Abkhazians, or the Osetinians? The information presented is very little and makes it easy for the director to guide the audience in his own point of view. Which in my humble opinion could be misleading. What could be improved: more historical info on the people and ethnic groups who lived in the area, how did the communities settle and grow; info on the links between Georgian and US military forces; the oil and gas pipelines that Russia did not want to see in Georgia. Its best to read additionally on the internet to get a more comprehensive view.

Thought Provoking

[cameronsmith92 · 5/10 · 9 February 2010]

This film does a great job of showing the Russian/Georgian conflict and the devastating toll this took on the people of Georgia. Unfortunately it was an intellectual journey for me rather than an emotional one. The fact that one of the parties to the conflict lied was not news. The fact that it was the invading party that lied wasn't news. This has been the pattern throughout the history of humankind.

I was waiting for the call to arms. The reason why this conflict, these people, this story should be important to me. I think the issue is that the only protagonist are the filmmakers themselves while everyone else in the film comes and goes with little chance for the audience to establish a lasting emotional connection.

The film also goes from saying that the Russians lied to the rest of the world lied. The BBC lied when they rebroadcast the Russian point of view. I found this extension of blame tenuous and without a call to arms it left me with the feeling that I was the next to be blamed.

This is a well made documentary about an important subject and worthy of anyone's time but unlike my fellow reviewer I do not see this as a great documentary.

master class on how to make a propaganda film

[ynu-20-869775 · 1/10 · 5 April 2011]

Ironically, the film which supposed to investigate how the Russian propaganda works has turned out to be the best example of propaganda itself - one sided story, presenting only the Georgian side's view. The piece on the war between Georgia and Abkhazia starts with the Georgian civilians fleeing Abkhazia and failing even to mention that the Georgian president Sevarnadze sent the troops including tanks to "sort out" Abkhazia in 1992 which lead to many non Georgian civilians killed. And interviewing Shevarnadze on the war is the same as asking Gaddafi on his view on the current events in Libya or asking Hitler on his view of the Second World War. Appalling ......

This film is as pure lies as snow white.

[andreinikipelov · 1/10 · 25 March 2011]

Being Russian I am not offended when Hollywood movies make Russia look world evilest evil, since this is being done for ages and now seems natural, but these are not claimed documentaries. Right now a festival grade film theater next to me has Russian lessons on agenda. People with taste and intelligence had it selected, what a shame!

The movie contains neither beauty, nor truth, now enjoy this combination if you will. 90 minutes of CNN or FOXnews will substitute this movie for free at a price of a few ad-breaks

As for IMDb-rating, it is (with all respect to minorities) fake and gay, you don't trust 57 votes in 1 year, do you?