The Soviet Scar | Al Jazeera Correspondent
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- A look at how Soviet rule has shaped present-day Georgia while exploring if it was a union of equals or a military and cultural occupation by Russia.
Journalist Tamila Varshalomidze grew up in Georgia after the downfall of the Soviet Union, but she is very aware of how the USSR's influence has affected her life, her family and community and her country.
In 1937, during Stalin's "Great Terror," her great great grandfather, a wealthy peasant, was purged. In the middle of the night, someone knocked on his door; he was told to get dressed and leave with the authorities.
His family never saw him again.
"It has been 80 years ... but I think that finding the truth still matters. I feel it helps us to understand why and how we were controlled as a country," says Tamila. "After almost 30 years of independence, the USSR is still with us and I believe we cannot have a future before we have dealt with this past."
Tamila sets out to explore her family's history and how Soviet rule has shaped present-day Georgia. Was it a union of equals or a military and cultural occupation by Russia? And how does the existence of Soviet-era monuments and buildings continue to dominate life in the former Soviet republic? She also examines the impact of this legacy on the psyche of those who live in their shadows, and asks why her fellow Georgians actively avoid dealing with their Soviet past?
"One of the means to show the power of the state has always been architecture, be it pyramids or baroque palaces," Georgian architect and urban planner, Irakli Zhvania says. "It was always the means to show your own people how powerful you are, to show them that they are small, they are little and they should be afraid of the state."
These structures, which Tamila refers to as the "Soviet scar", are a constant reminder of Georgia's long, painful struggle for independence.
For others, they are simply a fact of daily life. While some buildings reveal a kind of Soviet grandeur, many, like the "Khrushchev" residence blocks, named after the Soviet leader's promise of housing for the masses, are an outward symbol of hard times and oppression.
Poorly made, limited in functionality and lacking in design, the buildings are nonetheless home to many Georgians, including Tamila's parents.
"I think we actively avoid dealing with our past," she says. "This has always been the mindset of my parents' generation. They were born into a Soviet Union which was against people asking questions and curiosity got you into trouble."
In The Soviet Scar, Tamila looks into Georgia's complex past to find out if there might be a way to heal the collective memory of pain.
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This was a very well put together clip. The journalist expressed her view but did not control the narrative.
BTW Stalin is Georgian !
"If you demolish your past you'll demolish your future" That's it. Georgia jointed the Russian Empire according to the Georgievsky treatise, 1783 in order to be protected by Russian against Persia. Bagration - one of the bravest imperial general - descended from an old Georgian aristocratic family. And yes Stalin was from Georgia. Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and the whole sixth part of the world - from Baltic sea to Pacific ocean, from Nord pole to the Pamirs - we all have the same history and the past both glory and shameful. I love Georgia, Ukraine and Russia and I was born in Tajikistan, USSR.
Her problem with acceptance to Soviet architecture is unreasonable.She needs to let go the past and embrace the idea that those structures(whatever they may be built for) are now independent and are in Georgian control. She's emphasizing a myopic view that sounds biased and leaves no mark.
true that even i had the same idea and most importantly one has to view the events of history and architecture for that matter from solely an artistic point of view and not be biased , at some points in the documentary its clearly evident that she was being intolerant .
'Sounds biased'? It is the soviet union that build those abominations, not the Georgian government.
Soviet era was an 50 50 percent of prosperity and oppression of people... But ussr developed rapidly became the greatest rival of usa ... The Soviet system some times benefited and some times crushed everyone... Still many of like Ussr in case of development side ...
Very powerful documentary, I did not know much about the Georgian view of the Soviet Union.
Not sure about the politics & history about georgia.. but i can tell one thing about georgia.
It's truly a beautiful country.. been there many times! one way ticket to heaven.. gamarjoba to all my georgian brothers & sisters out there.. xx much love..
It is easier to avoid and not confront the past so I applaud Journalist Tamila Varshalomidze for exploring a difficult subject matter. 👏👏
Because she is passionate, this is a beautiful documentary.
That photographer who defended the USSR: Alexander Solzhenitsyn would ask: "How many people did the photographer betray and destroy in order to become so "successful" under the USSR. In other words, how much blood is on his hands?
Could be. To be a photographer in the USSR you would have to be vetted and carry a red booklet showing you are approved by the system. He likely DID know many happy persons on his level.
Soviet Leader:
Lenin=Russia
Stalin=Georian
Khrushchev=Russian
Breznev=Ukrainian
Andropov=Russia
The Peter I __georgian,Beria__georgian
khrushchov is ukrainian
This documentary was very fair and presented multiple viewpoints. I agree with the reporter and wish for an end to Russian aggression in the Caucasus.
The journalist question as to why people miss the USSR can be answered easily. They profited from it and survived it. Also, later on, in the documentary, the lady realizes the reason why no one is interested in the Cheka documents. Because those who informed on others profited from their false accusations while at the same time knowing that their false testimony would destroy the other person.
Just absorb or contemplate that reality for a period of time....in silence............
Bertold Brecht said it best:
You that will merge from the
deluge
In which we were drowned
When you speak of our shortcomings
Remember too
The bleak age
which you have escaped.
God bless, Michael
The Georgian interviewees all paint a complicated picture about Soviet times. Yet the journalist then faithfully reasserts her simplified version: Georgia is an ugly soviet scar. So why do those who actually lived through those times all resist this reduction and dismissal? Her answer? They are implicated. She therefore both pities and blames Georgians, whom she patronizes and sees as victims.
It's funny how people talk about Georgia here as its people didn't make choice to be free which meant and means to re-integrate into Europe and finally become a member of the EU and NATO. This is what we have always wanted to go closer to the western standards i.e the King Erekle II had an attempt to re-integrate the country into Europe as it was a protection wall of Western values. He many times became a topic of peace discussion for the European countries like Denmark, Ireland etc. Colchis (ancient Georgians) Iberians are Georgia's past & history and Europe is where Georgians belong to and what we have always wanted during last 2 centuries of occupation. EU membership support is at 85% in Georgia and NATO membership support at 80%. Before writing what was good for Georgians SOVIET OCCUPATION where Georgians never did what they wanted or freedom and independence, please ask yourself if you know what really hapoened with this country and what they want right now.. what is their self-determination? Democracy is not perfect but nobody had a right to occupy the Democratic Republic of Georgia which was recognised even by Russia including Abkhazia and Samachablo (so called South Ossetia) regions. Each family keeps its tragedy in Georgia... Russia has always involved Georgia in their things by armed forces attack..
Great video.
The documentary is informative but very lopsided when taking history as a collection of human stories and memories. The architecture may be ugly but I believe we could have benefitted from architects back then why it was all dull and grey. To just sum it up as means not inspire the people is rather a very conclusive statement.
Overall the documentary is good and gives different views of the story but I feel there are a lot of missing pieces to make the story whole. Noting that its a TV documentary which is limiting itself...
The old photographer was infuriating to watch. His aggression only helped strengthen the woman's argument. He was trying to suppress her in that very moment.
He should move to Russia if he misses the past so much.
A interesting documentary about Georgia in the 1990s is called " Power Trip " which was about the AES - TELASI company taking over the nation's power plants and how people reacted.
The get together at the end was "Soviet" pride at defeating the Fascist invaders at a cost of millions of lives. Some of those persons are doing it to remember the sacrifices of their loved ones. Nothing wrong with honoring the fallen. Would it be better for Georgia that the Soviet Union had lost and there were no such monuments or ceremonies?
This is good really good. It shows a point of view without pushing a agenda. It is how a documentary should be made.
AJ can be extremely biased. But presentations like these are one of the main reasons I enjoy AJ.
God bless, Michael
Tamila I felt very depressed watching your documantary. You are very baised and you were constantly trying to impose your own opinion and point of view on other people who you interviewed.
The Soviet Union existed after 1953 until 1991. What about that period? Russian empire had saved Georgia from the Turks and Arabs.
I know Georgia more than anyone as my wife was born and brought up in Tbilisi. They had everything during the USSR and lost everything in 1992. That is true about her, all her relatives and friends. Georgia is now in ruins because of the destruction of the USSR. Georgia since 1992 is controlled by thugs and criminals. This lady is a part of them. She drives a Toyota SUV, how can she afford it
The Soviet buildings were actually built by Georgians dam
Why is half the documentary just watching her look at stuff? Low budget.
You also have to remember that Russia sacrificed more individuals then all other countries combined on both sides during the great patriotic war. That should definitely be remember if for nothing else for their souls
Old Russian Proverb: If you dwell on the past, you lose an eye. If your forget the past, you lose both eyes.......
Goodkidjr43
This proverb is for individuals forgiving their own past, not the history of government. “If you do not know and understand your past you are doomed to repeat it, the past is not over, it is not even past,” are also wise proverbs.
The journalist reads about the execution of her father's great grandfather. Powerful. No response is necessary except silent contemplation..........
Kurwa
The curator of the Stalin museum in Georgia says that they are not glorifying Stalin. How many museums with Hitler's statues and "facts" are found in Germany??
Stalin was a murderer but you can't possibly compare him to the diabolical Hitler and his Nazis who were pure evil.
None, their illegal in Germany.
They're proud of him because he was a Georgian like them basically.
The journalist says; "unrestrained nationalism" NO. Unrestrained atheistic materialism.....
You should watch bald and beautiful channel on RUclips. He explores the old Soviet parts of Russia. And the vast consensus among the older people was that they were happier under Soviet rule. Now of course most of these people lived under Brezhnev and not as far back as Stalin and Lenin. I know it’s hard to believe but it seems to be the consensus throughout his entire lineup of travel videos. And yes those monuments are a sign of oppression. But I find nearly all of them to be incredibly unique and beautiful. And cheers to the artists that could create such monolithic structures that will more than likely stand the test of time. If nothing can be said for their intrinsic value at least something can be said for their artistic value.
my words here were cut and taken out of context, this film is a cheap propaganda, unfortunately .
Isn't Joseph Stalin, Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky r jews ???
Trotsky, Yes
Lenin, had some jewish blood, but never held jewish practices or customs.
Stalin, no. He was raised as an orthodox christian before becoming an atheist.
How accurate do you guys thinks this will be? Comment down below.
this is where the writers diary comes in.
one more thing. the name bagration came from georgia.
This lady, journalist, is too traumatized by wanting to kill and destroy everything... OMG.
She needs some therapy
You probably never lived in USSR, or you are just Russian guy lol
i`m not russian and maybe i shouldn't comment on this...there`s a russia as a country just because of him
Such a bias and one-sided point of view in this documentary... This lady is talking about the Soviet Union as if it was a country made by Attila the Hun. Newsflash - Georgia was much better off under the Russian empire and the USSR than it was previously. It was constantly raided by Persian, Ottoman and other invaders who slaughtered Georgians and enslaved tens of thousands!!
It would've been a province of Iran or Turkey now if it wasn't 200+ years of Russian protection and involvement! And in 1989 it WASN'T "Russian special forces" who intervened but Soviet special forces and Georgia was still part of the USSR. DON'T distort the facts and don't present things with that victimization mentality approach. Just pathetic!!!
I don't understand..how come Attila the hun? :) :) Greetings from HUNgary ;)
''protection'' and ''involvement'' so funny words
The only problem with what you say is that those who would disagree with you were mostly murdered by Stalin.........
The brutality of Stalin and the USSR is indisputable. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in his work, "The Gulag Archipelago", which is the greatest work of history/literature in the 20th century, destroys your assertion with history, eye witness accounts and the truth. Stalin and Communism tried to destroy the truth by Terror. Even Lenin believed that Terror was a necessary tool of State craft.
God bless, Michael
To be fair, it is probably true that under Czarist Russia, Georgia was better. But to assert that Georgia was better under the USSR is an absurdity that has proven false by Alexander Solzhenitsyn and of the over two hundred books of Russian biographies of those who survived under the Gulags and the USSR that I possess in my personal library of the systematic brutality over decades. This is beyond dispute.
Funny how Colonisers all sound the same.
Этот бесстыдная ложь!
Особенно фраза про акупацию Росссийской империей.
Это просто не знание истории.
Грузия сама попросила подданство у России, т.к. не могла себя защитить от Персов и Османской империи.
А в советском союзе это была одна из богатейших республик.
Сейчас Грузия находится под акупацией западных стран. Не дают ей развиваться и прививают ценности, которые Грузии чужды, эти ценности искушают человека и подтачивают его душу и более ничего.
В отличие от традиционных ценностей Грузинов, которые пока еще и держат от падения все население страны.
Жауыз Сталин 😡😡😡
soviet matias
panevanavakanaka
Talima you said "lesson of defeat" correct! Dont insult the truth of past, gain balance from it coz life's both good&bad. Its written in the Bible "sorrow sharpens character" & u😮 can't deny Stalin was Georgia's son-so there! Get a grip girl, your great great grandfather was martyrd - he's a hero!
умная женшина
That photographer who spoke to her is right. He told her things clearly. Soviet Union was really Great.
The Soviet Union existed after 1953 until 1991. What about that period? Russian empire had saved Georgia from the Turks and Arabs.
I know Georgia more than anyone as my wife was born and brought up in Tbilisi. They had everything during the USSR and lost everything in 1992. That is true about her, all her relatives and friends. Georgia is now in ruins because of the destruction of the USSR. Georgia since 1992 is controlled by thugs and criminals. This lady is a part of them. She drives a Toyota SUV, how can she afford it??
Kulaks got what they deserved, how many generations of peasants had suffered because of them? Now they got their revenge on the parasites, you can disagree on the killings, but you can not disagree on the elimination of the class itself. It's sad that people died, but don't forget the countless of poor peasants who suffered because of them. It's the same with everyone crying over the Tsar's children, what about the millions of poor children who died and suffered because of them? Who starved and suffered from the day they were born? That's the revenge of those children, that's them showing the elites what lived through, that's the primordial justice of humanity.
What a cry baby
I think it was a pretty biased documentary tbh . Mrs vashalomadze didn't do her position a favour by interviewing that russian 'hipster' lady . I think ( obviously unbeknownst to her ..otherwise she would have edited it out ) that hipster russian lady really owned ber by saying " what about Stalin , a man from your homeland that came and conquered and oppressed us " and
" Georgia has alot to thank Russia for , the investments and railways and infrastructure " . I hate communism but she made the mistake of not distinguishing communism from tsarist russia which was pretty aragant of her.
Is it collect five crisp and get a job at aljazeera ...? I fear it's more sinister than that !!!
Mrs vashalomadze doesn't realize that ..... there's no real democracy ... Western values ??? What's that ?? Divorce as many times as you want , abortion on demand ....marry your pet dog if you want ....what ???
Democracy is here in the west is objective . The appearance of freedom . But when you step out of line like assange you'll end up in belmarsh of even worse ! But the ' democracy ' in the east ( tsarist Russia etc ) was more fragile that's why they came knocking quicker and harsher punishments . People could do more .
I think Russia needs to say sorry , yes . For their crimes but also Georgia needs to grow up and stop blaming their woes on russia . The communist buildings Mrs vashalomadze was talking about ...what ..??? Here in England one can go to Coventry and see the same ' communist like blocks ' 🤣
Georgia being a orthodox brother of Russia should hold closer ties , an economic union --' end goal ' -- result would work wonders for Georgia development . And Abkhazia and ossestia would expiereience better autonomy . I mean she said Ossetia is Georgian ? Ossestians are Iranic people ? No ? Georgians aren't Iranic ...( Correct me if I'm wrong )
Anyway ....all in all I'm not surprised . Very biased documentary aljazeera ..
Truman doctrine - americas worst crime
@0:58 "as a georgian i cannot forget that my family members were executed in the purges". well sweety those purges were carried out by a georgian (Stalin)
and then her face goes blank.
Stalin is as Georgian as Hitler is Austrian. He had been telling his whole life that he is Russian.
@gurami dgebuadze hate to break it to you but stalin was not lenient on russians either. He killed many many more russians than any other nations in USSR.
@@cynicalsuka2463 First of all his real name isn't stalin he changed his Georgian name.
In Russia most people love him, some of them think he is saint. in Georgia it's radically different.
Шрам у вас на жопе. А Сталин самый великий человек 20ст. Который не только ВОВ выиграл, но и создал самую великую страну в мире, страну для людей без буржуев.
This lady has a big nationalist Georgian chip on her shoulder. Georgia is a part of the Soviet Union just as The State of Georgia is a part of the USA.
@Donald Trump yes, it doesn't exist, but it's remnants remain. Da.