Capturing Russia from white to black, north to south, east to west

Posts Tagged "documentary"

Latif: Stalin Imitator from Georgia

Latif: Stalin Imitator from Georgia

Latif was a big-rig driver, hauling goods, including wine from his native Georgia and apples from Iran to Russia. He said his work travels also included Germany. For the past five years though, he has been hanging around Red Square dressed as Stalin, earning about 100 rubles per photo with eager tourists. Latif says he goes home every two months for two weeks at a time to see family. The father of four said his wish is simple - to see his children and grand children do well. When he hangs up his Stalin costume for good, he says he will likely head back home to his native village in Georgia.

Rocking Moscow Youth

Rocking Moscow Youth

Young Russian Ozzy fans outside the concert venue. They didn't have tickets to the Black Sabbath concert, but were confident they would get in.

Milena: Teenage Dog Lover

Milena: Teenage Dog Lover

Moscow Portrait: I noticed Milena in the crowded metro earlier in the year due to her very colorful, original style. We met recently to take some photos. Hard of hearing, she has no relatives aside from her father. Thus, her Shar Pei dog is a very important part of her life. In addition to fashion and shopping, she loves taking photos with her friends.

Grigori: Levis Store Manager in USA Hat

Grigori: Levis Store Manager in USA Hat

Grigori was standing in front of a massive mall in Moscow in August with a USA flag on his hat. He said he worked for Levis and the hat was one of the items on sale. He said demand for the flag products was good and they had sold out of some.

Brothers & Ozzy Fans

Brothers & Ozzy Fans

These brothers said they attended Black Sabbath's first Moscow concert in the days of Perestroika. They returned to see the groups 2nd gig this year. I asked them how the concert atmosphere differed today from 1989. "Everything is different - it was a different country {USSR}, different people. There was more cohesion among people then ...they were hungry for music. They came to such concerts because they were a kind of outlet.

Krygyz Relatives Enjoying Break

Krygyz Relatives Enjoying Break

Moscow Portrait: These two young women were sitting in the shade near a "beach" in Moscow. They said there were cousins and had moved to Moscow 3 years ago from Kyrgyzstan to find work. They are two of probably 100,000+ people from that Central Asian country seeking a better salary here in Russia.

Pyotr: Engineer Turned Portrait Drawer

Pyotr: Engineer Turned Portrait Drawer

It's a story I have heard hundreds of times over the years from Russians older than 40, but it still touches me nonethless.....I asked Pyotr how he began working as a portrait artist. He said he was working as an engineer in the late 1980s but "was forced to by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the economy" to find some other means of taking care of his family. Petr said he would take his son, then a small child, with him occasionally to the pedestrian street or park where he drew.

Fitsum: Ethiopian in Moscow

Fitsum: Ethiopian in Moscow

The best-tasting coffee I have ever drunk was in Ethiopia, so I was keen to try the Ethiopian restaurant near the international university in Moscow. I didn't find Ethiopian coffee there, but did find Fitsum, a native of the East African country. He helps run the restaurant, having first arrived in Moscow several years ago on a scholarship. He says he misses his mom and the warm Ethiopian weather. He is seated in front of a world map on a wall near the entrance. Ethiopia is just above his right shoulder.

Nastya: Cook Who Loves Fried Potatoes

Nastya: Cook Who Loves Fried Potatoes

I met Nastya a few months back at a concert. She stuck out from the crowd as she was wearing camouflage pants and a black leather jacket that had "F@ck the System" written on the back in big letters. She said she was a cook at a European/Russian restaurant and that the jacket belonged to her male cousin. I asked her what her favorite meal was, expecting to hear something exotic. "Simple, fried potaoes." I love them as well, I told her.

Donatas: Film Maker

Donatas: Film Maker

Donatas said he dreams of making art house films, but admited it's probably tougher in Russia than in other places. "The government doesn't give money to shoot art house - perhaps because no one wants to see it. Maybe 5% are interested in such films. Or maybe I am the only one who wants to make such films.

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