Still taken from Flipse’s Our Newspaper (2011).
Our Newspaper (2011) is a documentary by Dutch film-maker Eline Flipse. The story follows a journalist and editor, husband and wife team as the film poignantly touches upon the stagnation, political apathy and daily struggles of простые люди (provicial people) in rural Russia.
International attitude to Russia’s treatment of journalism is blighted by multiple high profile murders of Kremlin-critical writers. In Flipse’s documentary, Andrej (journalist-husband) reports local stories which, naturally, illustrate the inadequacy of Russia’s wealth distribution and the Kremlin’s lack of social provision for its poorer inhabitants as a town is left without running water for 6 months, medical provision is distributed by a doctor whose good will sees her cycling over several miles in winter and a scandal is found at the hands of the local milk factory by illegally dumping and polluting fishing spots – a source of food to the impoverished locals. These stories are fodder to anti-Putinites.
In Our Newspaper they are informative stories that ‘reflect what happens in society’ and are not politically motivated. The locals are politically apathetic – perhaps a result of being force-fed ideology over 70 years and practicality as there are more important things to be getting on with. What is important is ‘Our Newspaper’ strives to connect ‘long forgotten’ communities that are also geographically dispersed. It serves as an alternative to State-run The Leninist that prints ‘smile it’s nearly the weekend’ on every edition – a pithy attempt to gloss over the lack of running water, or the dead fish.
It is quite astonishing that such a paper exists when low profit margins, self-censorship for fear of external reprimand and Andrej’s personal lack of satisfaction could stop publications altogether. The struggles against independent media in Russia is not just political. As one man said ‘Stalin did not know everything that happened’, it is the local pressures of personal vendettas and personal gain or loss is involved that threaten the freedom of journalism.
Flipse’s documentary is one of many non-Russian films that educate foreign audiences about Russia exotic and grim charm. We laughed when the Babushki discussed their favorite articles. We remained silent when a 90 year old woman cried because she hadn’t washed for months.
anglicanka 