Russian nationalism percolates in a castle outside Moscow, home of an emerging right-wing movement
Mikhail Morozov is a Russian patriot, devout Christian and millionaire businessman. He also presides over Duravoko—“the village of fools” southwest of Moscow—where people willingly come from all over Russia to free themselves from freedom. Here, followers become “true Russians” by ridding themselves of western influences and agreeing to obey Morozov’s strict rules. They have no TVs, no radios, no cinema and no cell phones. He sees to it that no one gets into the village without him knowing, and he reads all their mail to filter news from the outside. Yet he claims that the village is a democracy…Russian-style. The whole spectrum of state power—political, spiritual and administrative—gathers in the village for semi-private meetings with Morozov, who longs for a return of the country’s former glory. This eye-opening documentary examines one community’s attempts to build a model for post-Soviet Russia, in which newly-won autonomy is surrendered in exchange for stability.
Mikhail Morozov is a Russian patriot, devout Christian and millionaire businessman. He also presides over Duravoko—“the village of fools” southwest of Moscow—where people willingly come from all over Russia to free themselves from freedom. Here, followers become “true Russians” by ridding themselves of western influences and agreeing to obey Morozov’s strict rules. They have no TVs, no radios, no cinema and no cell phones. He sees to it that no one gets into the village without him knowing, and he reads all their mail to filter news from the outside. Yet he claims that the village is a democracy…Russian-style. The whole spectrum of state power—political, spiritual and administrative—gathers in the village for semi-private meetings with Morozov, who longs for a return of the country’s former glory. This eye-opening documentary examines one community’s attempts to build a model for post-Soviet Russia, in which newly-won autonomy is surrendered in exchange for stability.
This movie is a good warning to Europe. Russians aren’t European in any way shape or form, and they thirst for empire and land. They despise democracy and will do anything to stamp it out. Russia is the single greatest threat to European stability, the EU needs to continue to expand to include wealthy countries like Norway and Switzerland as well as the smaller nations within it like Andorra and the Eastern European nations like Croatia and Montenegro. A joint European armed forces needs to exist once and for all with bases in every EU nation. Otherwise Russia will bring war to the continent. The US would do well to stop looking at a single EU armed force as a threat to NATO.
Posted 07/08/09 by Robert W. Morgan
I believe I was among the first few Americans invited into the former Soviet Russia to examine the possibility of a true motion picture coproduction with the USA. I found the Russians to be honest, straight forward, industreous and artistic. I regret the the collapse of the Gorbachev regime prevented our project to proceed. Personally speaking I found the Russians delightful, highly intelligent, industreous and imaginative. It was to my great that our coproduction became impossible. My salute to you, Russians-all. I wish we could find a creative path we could walk together.
Posted 01/02/09 by didymus
I’d like to watch this film, but download time is way to long. 2 second segments every 15 seconds, pausing to let it upload some doesn’t work. In the end it took me 30 minutes to watch the first two minutes of the film. Won’t bother watching more… won’t be back. Thanks.
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