Published on 5 Aug 2014
[W.Z. This video documentary was presumably made in 2010. As Mike Reshitnyk has commented: The Georgian experience is being repeated in Ukraine -- déjà-vu.]
Lobotomy -- How can you report on a
war before it has even happened?
Subscribe to Journeyman for more: http://www.youtube.com/journeymanpict...
For downloads and more information visit: http://journeyman.tv/61506/documentar...
Reportage has become an essential part of any war, but in the
Russian-Georgian conflict it is propaganda that has dominated the
press. In this wonderfully sardonic documentary, an artful collision of
fact and fiction exposes Russia's ongoing abuse of the mass media. A
fiercely intimate narrative presence provides a very personal
indictment of Russian propaganda tactics, laying bare the state's
relationship with its people.
In 2008, on televisions around Russia the message came forth: "The
Russian military was forced to undertake police actions to keep order".
Meanwhile, in the war zone, Georgians desperately tried to stop Russian
soldiers from looting. "If you filch it, you could at least hide it",
one man shouts at a soldier who has stuffed silverware into his
knapsack. This is not an isolated incident; pictures show Russian
soldiers forcing Georgian citizens from their cars and smuggling
carpets into their tanks. CCTV captures more Russian soldiers clearing
out a bank - it certainly seems as if their protection of private
property is a little over-zealous.
What is even more astounding is that many of the images of this
conflict shown on Russian TV were broadcast before any TV crews had
arrived in Georgia. Much of the footage shown of Georgian tanks
'shooting everyone in sight' looks fabricated. "Everything we had to
transmit had been transmitted before it happened", says journalist
Vadim Rechkalov. The Russians were telling the story of the war before
anyone on the ground knew what had happened and for journalists like
Vadim it created a situation in which telling the truth was impossible:
"It had already been accepted, it was useless to try and disprove it".
However, the war with Georgia and the control of the media
reaction to
it is just the point of departure in this documentary's exploration of
the Russian media's brainwashing tactics, which argues that it was just
a symptom of a greater problem within Russia. "If you want to
understand Russian politics watch 'The Godfather'". Many accuse the
Russian government of systematic corruption and say it has contributed
to a society where many live in extreme poverty. "They had to distract
people from the problems in Russia and they needed an enemy to lay the
blame on". But why was Georgia the enemy they chose? "Animosity arose
because Georgia becoming a Western state was a shame for Russians",
says writer and journalist Yulia Latynina. Footage filmed by Russian
soldiers in Georgia gives an indication as to why the standard of
living there was such an embarrassment for the Russians. "They had
everything! Meanwhile, we live like beggars!" shout the Russian
soldiers as they look around a Georgian barracks.
As the 'United Russia' party continues to steadily win
elections,it
continues to keep the media in its iron grip. Every show of bravura
from its leaders disguises an entrenched system of repression. Russia
no longer needs gulags and show trials to keep its people subjugated,
all it takes is a camera and an active imagination.
Free Pro Video - Ref 5068
Journeyman Pictures is your independent source for the world's most
powerful films, exploring the burning issues of today. We represent
stories from the world's top producers, with brand new content coming
in all the time. On our channel you'll find outstanding and
controversial journalism covering any global subject you can imagine
wanting to know about.
Category: News & Politics
Licence: Standard YouTube Licence