I was so disappointed! I am not a Latvian, Russian or even from a Baltic country. But I was interested in the history of this place since I had never heard about it. But it was a waste of time.
This was not about life after USSR at all. You get almost no documentary about it. You just get the Russian speaking people nagging about their current situation and about them remembering the good old times of Soviet occupation (that was not so nice for the nation of Latvia). And that the city of Liepaja is not helping them (which it was!!!). The film really only tries to find nice feelings about those fun Soviet times and great memories... and forgets everything else. All predictions of the film are negated when you go see (GMaps) Karosta now. See for yourself. It has economic activity, it is much cleaner than hundreds of other places in the Baltics that "experienced" Soviet Union. The main characters in the movie are skeptical of all development by Liepaja city... but they were wrong. The much talked about bridge is there. The prison museum is open (but not at all highlighted in the film). The Latvian army has base there. The housing complexes are either fixed, derelict or are in some poor shape but all lived-in. The director definitely did not visit any other parts of the country or even across the bridge in Liepaja! Because he would have seen similar "projects" everywhere. Right across the river. There are scores of shops in this Karosta area (a hotel too) and the center church is renovated and glimmering in new shape.
It is almost like this is not about Karosta... but about some Russian speaking people who are unhappy in Latvia.
There are much better documentaries about the aftermath of Soviet Occupation in Baltic countries and in Latvia too. See them, not worth your time to watch this.
This was not about life after USSR at all. You get almost no documentary about it. You just get the Russian speaking people nagging about their current situation and about them remembering the good old times of Soviet occupation (that was not so nice for the nation of Latvia). And that the city of Liepaja is not helping them (which it was!!!). The film really only tries to find nice feelings about those fun Soviet times and great memories... and forgets everything else. All predictions of the film are negated when you go see (GMaps) Karosta now. See for yourself. It has economic activity, it is much cleaner than hundreds of other places in the Baltics that "experienced" Soviet Union. The main characters in the movie are skeptical of all development by Liepaja city... but they were wrong. The much talked about bridge is there. The prison museum is open (but not at all highlighted in the film). The Latvian army has base there. The housing complexes are either fixed, derelict or are in some poor shape but all lived-in. The director definitely did not visit any other parts of the country or even across the bridge in Liepaja! Because he would have seen similar "projects" everywhere. Right across the river. There are scores of shops in this Karosta area (a hotel too) and the center church is renovated and glimmering in new shape.
It is almost like this is not about Karosta... but about some Russian speaking people who are unhappy in Latvia.
There are much better documentaries about the aftermath of Soviet Occupation in Baltic countries and in Latvia too. See them, not worth your time to watch this.
