Film and Lecture: Confronting Amnesia: Frozen Memories of the Russian Gulag

with John Michalczyk

Saturday, April 21, 2:00pm
Members $8, Nonmembers $12

This gripping documentary draws a straight line from the Great Terror unleashed by Joseph Stalin from 1929 until his death in 1953 to the current desire to cover over and forget this monumental abuse of human rights. While the older generation tries to resurrect the image of Stalin as a national hero, the younger generation has seriously questioned and honestly confronted this dark past. Through the courageous and inspirational work of the human rights group Memorial in Russia, this next generation will begin to understand the past in order to create a healthier future.

Prof. John Michalczyk, Co-Director of Film Studies at Boston College and one of the producers of the documentary, will talk about key events in the history of the gulag, and lead an audience discussion.

The documentary was primarily filmed in Siberia, Moscow, Perm, and St. Petersburg with a host of survivors, historians, and human rights activists. Confronting Amnesia reflects the conflicting narratives on this history in Russia today, as it attempts to move toward a more democratic government, despite its recent political setbacks.