The Russians – An intimate journey through Russia (2/2) | DW Documentary

A very private trip through Russia - a world power with a shrinking population, a myriad of ethnic minorities, and vast distances.

Encounters with Russians from six different generations help us get to know a Russia beyond Moscow and the Kremlin. Away from the 75th Victory Day parade and displays of military might, we meet the people of Russia. They tell us of a nation poised between tradition and the future. Filmmaker Juri Rescheto travelled through the giant country, meeting with ordinary Russians who share their everyday lives with him. They talk about their joys and sorrows, their hopes and needs, and their experiences - good and bad. The film shows intimate scenes from their homes and their workplaces, as well as glimpses of their political views, their standards of living, and their customs. The protagonists’ personal situations are presented in relation to official Russian studies on the particular generation to which they belong.

In Part 1 we go to a city halfway between Moscow and Novosibirsk to meet Jelena, who works as a surrogate mother in a children’s home. Then we travel to the boreal forest in western Siberia to meet 16-year-old Veronika, who spends most of the year in a boarding school. Her parents are reindeer herders and members of the indigenous Khanty people. The generation of young adults in Russia is represented by Kirill, who holds down a normal job, but spends his free time practicing a dangerous hobby: no holds barred boxing.

In Part 2 of the documentary we meet Dmitri, who lives in northwestern Russia and works at Europe’s largest blast furnace. He is a proud steelworker and admires Vladimir Putin. At Lake Baikal, Baba Lyuba tells us many stories about her legendary region and her own eventful life. Finally, we make the acquaintance of Ivan, who earns a livelihood from death as an engraver of tombstones at a gigantic cemetery in central Russia.

Get to know the Russians a little better in our six-part YouTube special:

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[georgepetrin]

My favorites in this 2-part series were the lady who worked as a mother in the orphanage and the elderly lady who lived on Lake Baikal.

[VI-cbeu]

i am from the ukraine and when i see my grandmother, she is one of my biggest motivations. she had such a difficult live, survived war and hunger and still has such a spirit and joy of life and love to give !

[akapilka]

The "Lady of the Lake" (as she's being referred in the comments below) really deserves to be immortalised in an animated movie. She gives me some Ghibli vibes. How awesome would a movie like that be! I can only imagine.

[kes]

"I have everything to make me happy. I have milk, cream, meat and fish in the lake." This old lady makes life look so simple and fun!

[arunsapru]

I just love that woman on the lake baikal. Just adore her spirit.

[imranqazi]

The old lady was my favorite of all characters
She is just motivation how she is living her life at this stage in such a zealous way
She truly proves that age is just in matter of thought not by living years
Thank you DW

[Courthadork]

I really love these documentaries. The only thing that bothers me, though are the voiced English translations that go over people speaking their foreign languages. I'd rather read English subtitles and be exposed more to the sound of different languages than to hear loud English translations that distract from what the person is trying to convey through their own words.

[Mamama]

i live in russia, and ive never seen an old lady THAT happy about I LOVE HER! God bless her and let her live the longest life possible!! <3

[damndemn]

I want to be as cool as the ice skating grandma when I grow up

[sissyrayself]

That headstone maker was a wonderful man, a good father and husband too. What a sweet soul.

[cmuse]

I feel the skates from 1943 are more than just skates. They transport her back to her younger days and maybe that's why she doesn't have an old spirit. The young girl is still living on on the inside 👍🏻

[maidsua]

Russian music, architecture and traditions are wonderful. I wish our neighbors in the East all the best. Loving greetings from Norway.

[tlaragihai]

This amazing woman, answering the question about happiness, said "I have all I need: milk, cream, cheese and there`s fish... in the sea". She called Baikal a sea, not a lake. This is some level of respect and love, I`m crying.
Lyubov is such a lovely woman, I want to be as simple and happy as she is.

[mbenembene]

The lady who works as the Mother and the skating grandma are such inspiring human beings. Hugs to them.

[janefarrer]

Special respect goes to a background music person ....

[evkulkova]

Baba Luba is great skater and a hard working woman. Nobody mentioned the enormous job she is doing each day like looking after 5 cows, 2 calf, 4 chicken and 4 dogs, cleaning animal places, bringing fresh water from the lake to her house to water plants, wash herself or to make cup of tea, preparing wood to warm her house, growing vegetables, doing any repairs in the house. Plus no shops to buy bread or anything, no pharmacy or any civilization near by...

[deadrosencrantz]

As a Russian, I find this documentary very inspiring. Thanks DW for such a sincere portrayal without any prejudice or propaganda. It shows that Russia is more than just bad politics and Vladimir Putin, and this fact many people (including Russians themselves) tend to forget.

[sumosher]

Wow, the woman on the lake rocked big time!!! Still so beautiful too!

[MsWaruraWiny]

Had to rewind the last part severally when the old lady does an about - turn on her skates! She is lovely!

[maraeacookson]

Both Part 1 & 2 were amazing, I really enjoyed listening to the gentleman doing the gravestones, he did it with respect of the person, respect the family, and respect in the knowledge of the culture and its processes for a funeral. The woman in her late 70's is amazing in her strength, tenacity, courage and joy in daily life. Both these people are beautiful examples of what we should do.