Zatěrjannyj v Sibiri

Although I believe the reality was much worse, this film still shows with a great deal of rawness and chilling impact the inhuman living conditions of prisoners in the Stalinist concentration camps, the gulags. The protagonist, a British archaeologist, imprisoned for no apparent reason (as was the custom in the Soviet Empire), not only has to deal with the persecution of the guards, who were unlimited masters over the life and death of each prisoner, but he must also fight for his life with the worst criminals and murderers among the prisoners. His transformation from a man with the appearance of a parlour gentleman into a skinny inmate shattered by the surrounding environment is amazing. It is also clearly shown that political, wrongly convicted prisoners were considered a much worse sort of people in the gulags than the worst murderers and rapists. There is also a tragic love story of the main character with a nurse from the camp. I watched it several years ago on ČT2, this impressive film is clear choice if they show it again. (15.01.2005)