Mikhail Gorbachev was one of the most important world leaders of the 20th century. In this film, the acclaimed documentarian and co-director Werner Herzog interviews Gorbachev and we get a good inside look literally behind what was known as the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union.
When Gorbachev became the youngest leader in Soviet history, he saw that their system had virtually broken down. Through implementation of his programs of Perestroika and Glasnost, Gorbachev tried to modernize the commerce of his nation as well as implement some democratic principles there.
Although, his tenure as President was cut short, in 1991, by a coup led by Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev's reforms were influential in beginning nuclear arms reduction working with Pres. Ronald Reagan, the reunification of Germany, and more freedoms to the Soviet bloc nations of that time.
Aside from the interview with the then 87-year-old Gorbachev, which not only gave the viewer a good behind-the-scenes look at those times and highlighted his intelligence and sense of humor, the doc is also filled with vintage film clips many of which I had never seen before.
Overall, not for those looking for an action flick, but geared for those viewers who like history. To note, English subtitles were only available using my closed caption option, and when Russian was spoken the subtitles were quite small.
When Gorbachev became the youngest leader in Soviet history, he saw that their system had virtually broken down. Through implementation of his programs of Perestroika and Glasnost, Gorbachev tried to modernize the commerce of his nation as well as implement some democratic principles there.
Although, his tenure as President was cut short, in 1991, by a coup led by Boris Yeltsin, Gorbachev's reforms were influential in beginning nuclear arms reduction working with Pres. Ronald Reagan, the reunification of Germany, and more freedoms to the Soviet bloc nations of that time.
Aside from the interview with the then 87-year-old Gorbachev, which not only gave the viewer a good behind-the-scenes look at those times and highlighted his intelligence and sense of humor, the doc is also filled with vintage film clips many of which I had never seen before.
Overall, not for those looking for an action flick, but geared for those viewers who like history. To note, English subtitles were only available using my closed caption option, and when Russian was spoken the subtitles were quite small.