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This Is Russia!

Name: This Is Russia!
Director: Sid Feder
Released: 1958
Duration: 67 min

Representation Score

2.7/10

Limited

1958

Approved

Director

Sid Feder

Runtime

67 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

This 1957 documentary serves as a visual record of Soviet life rather than a vehicle for social commentary. It captures a wide geographical range, from Moscow to Siberia, providing a glimpse into the era's urban and regional landscapes. While the film highlights the multi-ethnic reality of the Soviet Union, it remains bound by the social norms of its time. It lacks any representation of LGBTQ+ identities or disability, reflecting the limitations of mid-century observational filmmaking. Ultimately, the work is a historical artifact. It documents the existing social and cultural structures of the period without attempting to challenge or subvert them.

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Category Breakdown

Does This Is Russia! have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not depict any LGBTQ+ identities. The historical context of the 1957 Soviet Union limited the visibility of non-straight relationships.

How does This Is Russia! portray gender?

Limited

Women are shown in various social and labor roles. However, the film follows traditional gender stereotypes without challenging gender hierarchies.

How racially and ethnically diverse is This Is Russia!?

Fair

The documentary captures a wide range of ethnicities, showcasing regions such as Bukhara and Samarkand to highlight the multi-ethnic makeup of the Soviet Union.

How does This Is Russia! represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film presents a society organized around collective and state-centric structures. It serves as a neutral observation of a non-Western geopolitical entity.

Does This Is Russia! include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no depiction of individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities. Such subjects were not a focus in mid-century observational travelogues.

Present on Screen

Shows the multi-ethnic composition of the Soviet Union.
Captures diverse cultural landscapes through regions like Bukhara and Samarkand.
Provides a broad ethnic spectrum compared to many Western productions of the same era.

Limited or Absent

Does not depict any LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight relationships.
Does not represent individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.
Follows traditional gender stereotypes without challenging gender hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

Documentary footage of late 1950s Russia covers such cities and towns as Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Yalta, the Black Sea, Kharkov, Sochi, Sukumi, Gori, Bukhara, Samarkand, Frunzo and Siberia.

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