The following is an email sent to me from The Moscow Mutant
Like any good expat I signed up with the Australian Embassy to receive information as it comes to hand. More often than not it is meaningless crap that is of no interest to anyone. Today however, I am surprised to see that the first even Oz film festival will take place in Moscow in March! I thought how excellent, the Russkies will be able to view some quality Australian cinema. The quote from the embassy even reads “We are looking forward to acquainting the Russian audiences with some Australian culture”.
After living in Moscow now for nearly 8 months, I should have known better! Nothing in Russia is as it seems fellow fixers!!!
Scanning the list of selected movies there was nothing I would suggest is classic Australian cinema. There was no Gallipoli, Shine, Rabbit Proof Fence, Breaker Morant etc etc… NO, our Russian/Australian culture vulture is either completely twisted or possesses not one ounce of a clue!!! The selections made to show the Russian Cinema Public are:
Romper Stomper and the Wog Boy!
Now I am not necessary casting dispersions on the quality of either of these movies, I do however, have serious reservations on the message we are attempting to deliver to our post-communist brothers and sisters. One movie portrays us as Neo Nazis that hate immigrants and like nothing more than to smash the living hell out of them at any chance we can get; the other suggests we are a bunch of idiots that hate immigrants and like nothing more than to make fun of them at any chance we get.
This is not a good thing in itself, but to add to the nonsense why would we show these films to a country that already has a large dislike for foreigners, a high proportion of racists and a large segment of skinheads. Is this Johny’s little way of finding a common ground for building foreign relations?
Aaagh the serenity!!!
Moscow Mutant
Addendum to article…
Just to provide further credibility to my ranting, the following is an excerpt from a genuine article in the Press
Policeman's lot is a thuggish one in Russia, says poll
By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow
(Filed: 17/02/2006)
Two out of three Russian policemen think that torturing suspects is acceptable, while over a quarter admit to extorting bribes. Even so, most of Russia's police cannot understand why they are unpopular, a new opinion poll has found.
Ed. Note. For those of you who have the usual suspicions about respondent sample size…
The poll was conducted in only 41 cities [reasonable sample size I suggest]
Studies suggest, however, that Russia's traffic police collectively take home an additional £680 million a year in bribes.
The Daily Telegraph sought the opinion of three policemen in central Moscow on the poll. All three refused to comment, though one demanded a bribe and another threatened violence.
"If you don't go away I will beat you," he said.
