‘Alexander*a’: A Journey into the Life of Soviet Revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai

BERLIN – “Alexander*a” is a multimedia performance that immerses audiences in the world of pioneering revolutionary and politician Alexandra Kollontai.  As one of the first female diplomats in history, Kollontai also became a powerful advocate for women’s liberation within the early Soviet government.  Directed by Vika Privalova — a multidisciplinary artist born in Russia who…

Writing About War Without Writing About War

Censorship of literature is not new in Russia. In 2010 the Russian parliament passed a law requiring age-appropriate labels on books, esssentially requiring authors to avoid controversial themes such as drugs, sex, and profanity to retain a broader readership.  After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in March 2022 the government published amendments to the Criminal Code,…

Dmitry Krymov’s Mad, Mad World

Riga was the first stop on a tour of a new play written and directed by Dmitry Krymov starring just two actors: Maxim Sukhanov and Chulpan Khamatova. It is called “Notes of the Mad,” invoking the tradition of literary works about mad Russians that began two centuries ago with Nikolai Gogol. The premiere began with…

Russian Actor Roman Madyanov Dies Aged 62

Russian screen and theater actor Roman Madyanov, known for his roles as a military officer in the TV show “Soldaty” and as a corrupt official in the critically acclaimed 2014 drama “Leviathan,” passed away at the age of 62, media reported Wednesday. “You’re loved by the entire nation,” Madyanov’s friend and state television host Yekaterina Strizhenova wrote on…

TNT’s Comedy Club to Air Final Episode After 20 Years Amid Rumors of Revamp

Russian entertainment channel TNT will broadcast the final episode of its long-running show Comedy Club this Friday, ending a nearly 20-year run amid rumors of a major revamp. “Comedy Club is closing,” Gazprom Media Holding, TNT’s parent company, announced Thursday. “With 20 seasons on air, more than 800 original episodes, two TEFI awards, 1,500 stand-up performances,…

‘Russians at War’ Film To Be Screened in Toronto Despite ‘Threats’

The controversial documentary “Russians at War” will be shown in Toronto on Tuesday, after the city’s film festival organizers initially decided to halt screenings due to “significant threats” over their decision to feature the film. “Russians at War,” directed by Anastasia Trofimova, was first presented at the 81st Venice Film Festival. Trofimova, who studied in…

Toronto Festival Cancels ‘Russians at War’ Film Screenings Over Threats

The Toronto International Film Festival said Thursday it was pausing all upcoming screenings of the controversial documentary film “Russians at War” after receiving “significant threats.” “We have been made aware of significant threats to festival operations and public safety,” festival organizers said in a statement, pointing to reports they received “indicating potential activity in the…

How Chicken Kyiv Conquered the World

Long ago, when foreign tourist companies would send travelers to the USSR, they’d include warnings in their pamphlets to cut into Chicken Kyiv with care! Meanwhile, Soviet citizens would usually pierce it with a fork right away to release an even flow of buttery juice. Chicken Kyiv is famous and popular all over the world.…

‘Russians at War’: Documentary About Russian Troops in Ukraine Criticized at Venice Film Fest

“All this must be filmed,” director Anastasia Trofimova said to explain why she began filming “Russians at War.” The documentary was presented in the category of “Out of Competition” at the 81st Venice Film Festival. Trofimova, who studied in Canada, had previously worked with RT (formerly Russia Today) and then with the French service of…

An Apple for the Tsar

Apples are not at all as simple as they seem. Although they seem ordinary, no other fruit has left such a large trace in world history. In Russia, cultivated varieties of apples appeared in the 11th century during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise. It is believed that the first apple orchard was planted on…

Pro-War Singer Shaman Performs for Soldiers and Evacuating Children in Kursk Region

Pro-war singers Shaman and Grigory Leps visited southwestern Russia’s Kursk region on Thursday to entertain wounded soldiers and send off children who were being evacuated from their homes as Ukraine’s incursion in the area continued into its fourth week. Between air raid alerts, acting Kursk region Governor Alexei Smirnov shared videos on Telegram of Shaman and…

Anti-War Russian Pianist Dies in Custody

Russian concert pianist and anti-war activist Pavel Kushnir died in police custody after going on hunger strike, his mother confirmed Monday. Friends and activists said last week that Kushnir died at age 39 in a pre-trial detention center in the Jewish autonomous district, a remote region of Russia’s Far East. Federal Security Service (FSB) agents arrested Kushnir…

Kissel and the Ancient Art of Pudding

However strange it seems today, our ancestors described ancient kissel (also spelled kisel in English) as being very different from today’s kissel. First of all, they didn’t drink it—they ate it. It was cooked down to a dense consistency. Hence the “kissel shores” celebrated in Russian fairy tales. Second, kissel was not sweet. Its name…

Fashion Police: Russia Cracks Down on Pop Stars’ Revealing Costumes

Russian politicians fighting to defend so-called “traditional” values are turning their attention to the country’s vibrant music scene, lambasting pop stars for performances and outfits deemed to be too revealing or sexual.  Pop singer Natalya Chistyakova-Ionova, who is best known by her stage name Glukoza, became embroiled in scandal after pro-Kremlin censorship activist Yekaterina Mizulina…

How a Novel About a Zombie Apocalypse in Moscow Spooked the Russian Government

Writer Ivan Filippov’s novel “Mouse” (“Miysh’”), about a zombie apocalypse in Moscow, was pulled from Russian bookstore shelves this month on the Prosecutor General’s Office’s orders. The news came from Georgy Urushadze, founder of the book’s publisher Freedom Letters. Luckily for the publisher, sales of the book only increased after the announcement.  Freedom Letters is one of…

‘No One Needs Your English Single’: Anti-War Russian Performers Grapple With Staying Relevant in Exile

“Stop sinking and think of your income, my star. Overseas you’re going to rot in a stinking backyard. No one needs your English single in the Anglophone world.”  These are the lyrics of “Kalinka,” the first English-language track by popular rapper-in-exile Noize MC. The song captures the struggles of the many Russian artists, musicians and…

Moscow Court Shuts Down Popular Music Festival

A Moscow court has ordered the “liquidation” of Russia’s popular Grushinsky music festival, an event that has been held annually in the southern Samara region since 1968. The court’s decision follows an earlier announcement by the festival’s organizers, who said they would be forced to cancel this year’s event due to “possible risks… in the…

In Ancient Rus the Fig was King

The fig might seem to be an exotic fruit, but it has been a culinary treat in Russia for ages. Hundreds of years ago it was brought by Asian merchants to Muscovy. Most commonly called a wine berry, this fruit was written about in many ancient books. Figs are an amazing fruit. They are harvested…

Sacred Slavic Sausage Through the Ages

For Russians, kolbasa — the word for any kind of ground meat product, from cold cuts to breakfast sausage to the kind of sausage you throw on the grill — is an iconic and even sacred dish. It’s no longer a secret that a half-century ago it defined everything for Russians: social status, leisure activities…

‘Human Rights Defender, Artist, Political Prisoner’: Exhibition Honors Jailed Russian Activist Orlov

PARIS — An exhibition dedicated to the veteran Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov went on display in the French capital this June. Orlov, 71, is serving a two-and-a-half-year prison term for criticizing the full-scale invasion of Ukraine after he was sentenced this year for “discrediting” the Russian Armed Forces. “Oleg Orlov: Human Rights Defender,…