Considering the extremes to which the reality TV phenomenon has been taken, it was only a matter of time before America was treated to a beauty pageant at a women's prison in Siberia. But this is actually a true story, and a surprisingly good film to boot.
Russian-American filmmakers Maria Yatskova and Irina Vodar give us an intimate glimpse into the lives of several current and former inmates of prison camp UF-91/9. These young women have struggled with the challenges of life in post-Soviet Russia, as drugs, poverty, and violence led them each onto the wrong side of the prison walls. It's a harsh work camp, where the women work long hours making uniforms for soldiers, but once a year they are allowed to use the sewing machines to express their own creativity and femininity. The inmates take their "Miss Spring" contest seriously, and the results are both amusing and endearing.
Despite a light, humorous tone to many of the scenes, "Miss Gulag" captures the frustration and despair felt by those who have been denied a share of the new prosperity and personal freedom in Russia. But it's also a testament to the power of human imagination to flourish in unlikely places. Highly recommended.
Russian-American filmmakers Maria Yatskova and Irina Vodar give us an intimate glimpse into the lives of several current and former inmates of prison camp UF-91/9. These young women have struggled with the challenges of life in post-Soviet Russia, as drugs, poverty, and violence led them each onto the wrong side of the prison walls. It's a harsh work camp, where the women work long hours making uniforms for soldiers, but once a year they are allowed to use the sewing machines to express their own creativity and femininity. The inmates take their "Miss Spring" contest seriously, and the results are both amusing and endearing.
Despite a light, humorous tone to many of the scenes, "Miss Gulag" captures the frustration and despair felt by those who have been denied a share of the new prosperity and personal freedom in Russia. But it's also a testament to the power of human imagination to flourish in unlikely places. Highly recommended.