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EESTI ELU reedel, 26. märtsil 2021 — Friday, March 26, 2021
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Estonian movie will be presented at the Boston Baltic Virtual Mini-Film Festival! English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Russian nostalgia and Stalin’s lingering presence (III)
a crime. The law was legislated in 2019 after the Kremlin closed an independent TV station in 2014 that had asked viewers whether Stalin should have capitulated Leningrad rather than losing one million Prior to 2014, Putin’s popu of its inhabitants during an 872larity rating was seriously day German siege. Putin has stressed that by waning. But with the an nexation of Crimea that year, “excessively” (yes, excessively) it surged some 20% higher. demonizing Stalin, one is also Internationally it was clearly attacking the Soviet Union and considered to be Ukrainian Russia. Putin’s public record of pro/ territory. The falling ratings stemmed anti-Stalin sentiment is wellfrom Putin invoking the Soviet calculated to favour all of past for Russians who recalled Stalin’s virtues while practically Crimea to have been the site of never condemning his vices. In intense battles during WWII, a 2017 interview with a Holly the Great Patriotic War, which wood producer, Putin owned up ended in glorious victory for to excusing Stalin’s “flaws”. Russians and saved the West Stalin was faced with insur from calamity. The commander mountable circumstances, both in chief of this triumph? Stalin! at home and abroad, Putin said. In a twisted way, Putin’s For anyone to have the cour age to counter a Kremlin-led stance about Stalin could leave creeping rehabilitation of Stalin the message that tyranny could is sporadic at best. Yes, the be admired. But he cleverly massive haut-relief of Stalin cautioned: “that does not mean from a mosaic of soldiers, sail we should forget the horrors of ors, engineers, physicians etc., Stalinism”. Let’s honour Sta is missing from the St. lin’s strong leadership and pat Petersburg Narvaskaya subway riotism, which does not include station – but still a stalwart his paranoia, Putin rationalizes. But that approach is seen by effort not widely enjoined many as a perilous strategy. It ationwide. n In Novirsibirsk, Russia’s soft-pedals and immunizes people against the dangers of third-largest city, a new statue of Stalin was installed in 2019, authoritarianism and instills a in front of the Communist Party sense of admiration for heavyheadquarters, naturally, but un handed, autocratic rule. “Tyran veiled by no less a figure than ny gets results.” It also sanitizes the city’s mayor, thus giving the the crimes of a murderous dic tator, leaving the impression statue municipal approval. Accordingly, in upholding that brutality can be acceptable. Putin has revitalized the his own style of autocratic rule, Putin cannot totally condemn Soviet era. When the average Stalin nor give impetus to ini Russian is asked to remember tiatives similar to that in St. Soviet/Russian successes, the Petersburg. He must find typical answers are the WWII Stalin’s major redeeming victory, Yuri Gagarin as the first qua lities, and the conquest of man in space, Russia’s lead in east and central Europe in 1945 space exploration and even the appeals to rudimentary Russian “return” of Crimea to Russia. nationalism. In the face of all this, the It was apparent to many Kremlin has not made any foreign guests attending the effort to stop the creeping 70th anniversary of the end of legitimization of Stalin’s cruelty WWII in Moscow that Stalin and is willing to encourage the was the real focus of the cele time-worn cliches of Soviet brations rather than the histori “accomplishments”. cal Allied victory over Nazi To Putin, the Soviet Union’s Germany. Putin gave his ap implosion was a “major geo proval to the 1939 Molotov- political disaster of the cen Ribbentrop pact which resulted tury”. For us, the collapse was a in the Nazi-Communist co crucial necessity and clearly ordinated invasion of Eastern inevitable. It’s unlikely the Europe and the start of WWII. ever-widening divergence be Current law states that tween the two positions will spreading “false information end as long as the current about the activity of the Soviet regime in Moscow holds power. Union during World War II” is LAAS LEIVAT
Self Made Cameraman, by Hardi Vomer April 2–4 2021 We invite you to participate in our first virtual mini-film festival in April. Representing Estonia is “The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke” (Selfmade Cameraman), by Hardi Vomer during Easter weekend. https://www.bostonbalticfilm. org/ The Boston Baltic Film Festival (BBFF) was launched in 2018, when Boston’s Baltic organizations jointly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Baltic States. This year we will open our third 3rd season in April with a virtual “Spring Mini Festival.” The aim of the festival is to raise awareness of the culture and language of the Baltic States through film media and provide a forum for newer domestic creations. Three films (one from each Baltic nation), will be available for viewing on a flexible time line over several upcoming weekends in April 2021, fol lowed by interviews with the filmmakers. Emerson College is providing technical expertise and a digital streaming plat form so that all of the films can be viewed at home on any device. The schedule of the festival is as follows: April 2–4, 2021 – Opening with an Estonian feature film “The Real Life of Johannes Pääsuke” – The film will be followed by an interview with Hardi Volmer, who is a renowned film director, director, theater artist, designer and musician. Hardi Volmer’s feature film takes the viewer back to 1912 and tells an adventurous,
Virtual forum seeks to involve diaspora in Estonia’s development
humorous, and romantic story about the first Estonian film maker Johannes Pääsuke through his enigmatic expedi tion to Setomaa. The film uses original shots of Johannes Pääsuke’s documentary film “Trip through Setomaa” and seamlessly intertwines them with the new fictional account, giving a look at Seto culture and the peculiarities of its customs. April 9–11, 2021 – Latvian documentary film “A to B Rollerski” – The film is followed by an interview with biathlete Raimonds Dombrovs kis and director Arnis Aspers. Raimonds Dombrovski is a seven-time biathlon champion born in Latvia, who emigrated to America and has now re turned to Latvia. In 1988, he set himself the challenging goal of rollerskiing 4,200 miles in 90 days, starting in Alaska and
virtual forum and share their thoughts and experiences. I am convinced that trust-based co-operation with global Esto nians will contribute to the achievement of the future goals ERR, March 2021 and international success of A virtual forum will be held Estonia.” to discuss the role the Hille Hanso, a political Estonian diaspora can play in scientist and journalist living in contributing to the country’s Turkey, and Ellen Valter, a development. lawyer living in Canada, will The online event will be held also speak at the forum, talking on April 13 and is being orga about how global Estonians nized by the Ministry of could participate in Estonia’s Foreign Affairs. The forum is a development. continuation of the survey The ministry will present its conducted by the Ministry of current activities and plans con Foreign Affairs among the dias cerning the global Estonian pora last year and is the next community at the virtual forum step in strengthening co-and will reveal in more detail operation between Estonia and the results of the survey con Estonians living abroad. ducted last year among Esto Minister of Foreign Affairs nians living abroad. Eva-Maria Liimets (Center) The forum will also discuss said: “It is especially important how the new focus topics of the for us that Estonians living Ministry of Foreign Affairs, abroad also participate in the business and cyber diplomacy,
ending in Mexico. Twenty-six years later in 2014, Raimonds rolled the same distance for the second time. The film is com posed on the basis of original shots and reflects the attitude, successes and achievements of both the young and experienced athlete. April 16–18, 2021, Lithuanian romantic drama “I want to live” – The film is followed by an interview with Justinas Krisiunas and actor David Breive The film is a romantic drama in which teenagers meet in a sanatorium for one purpose in order to improve their health, but leave it for a different result. The film points at the difference of being alive and actually living. One ticket price: $12.-; Bundle of 3 tickets: $25.https://www.bostonbalticfilm. org/
help to shape Estonia’s reputa tion in the world. Consular services and news for Estonians living abroad will also be intro duced. The virtual forum will take place on Tuesday, 13 April from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Worksup: https://worksup.com/ app#id=DIASPORAA2021 The broadcast will also be available to watch later.
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
