- Oleg Vidov-one of the Soviet Union's most beloved actors-was persecuted, blacklisted and pushed to the breaking point before escaping to the West and achieving the American dream.
- Based on his soon-to-be published autobiography, OLEG reveals the incredible life story of Oleg Vidov. Born in communist Russia to a schoolteacher, by the age of 25, Oleg had become one of the Soviet Union's most celebrated actors of his time. However, no amount of fame could save him from the political system that tried to control his life. He married into General Secretary Brezhnev's inner circle only to wind up blacklisted, threatened with death, and forced to defect to the West. Reinventing himself in Hollywood, his efforts to counter anti-Russian stereotypes were attacked by the same forces that ruined his career decades earlier. Finally, in October 1991, with Oleg's fears of persecution calmed by the rise of perestroika, he returned to Moscow to star in a Danish film. Then, two months later, on Christmas Day 1991, President Gorbachev resigned from office and the USSR collapsed.—Phillip Nakov (City PR)
- Synopsis: People in democratic societies tend to take their freedom for granted. Oleg Vidov's life was different: He came of age in communist Russia. Though celebrated as one of the Soviet Union's biggest movie stars, no amount of fame could save him from a system that tried to control his life. And so began Oleg's desperate struggle for freedom-a journey that would culminate in his attempt to sneak across the border without being shot.
Overview: This feature documentary utilizes excerpts from Oleg Vidov's autobiography read as narration to communicate the story, punctuated by clips from feature films and soundbites from expert historians, journalists, actors and directors, friends and family members. The production team conducted extensive interviews in Europe, Russia and the United States with people who witnessed Mr. Vidov's meteoric rise to movie stardom, his persecution, escape and subsequent life as an expatriate in America.
Topic Summary: Oleg Vidov was a star whose life became an anxious struggle against nefarious forces that tried to end his career. This feature documentary explores Vidov's immigration story, the issues of state justice and morality, and contrasts the Soviet and American systems as they played out in Oleg's life. A major subplot is Mr. Vidov's acting career and the rare opportunity he received to work on international co-productions outside the Soviet Union where he could see how other people lived.
At a time when many are concerned about Vladimir Putin's Russia, the rise of authoritarianism, and the degradation of the rule of law, this feature documentary offers compelling testimony from a popular figure who endured privation and persecution before escaping to the West and achieving the American dream. Entertaining and enlightening, Oleg's story offers hope to a new generation of immigrants seeking freedom and human rights.
The producers have assembled an international team of award-winning filmmakers who have had direct access to Mr. Vidov's family and friends for over a year. (by Cory Taylor)
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By what name was Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story (2021) officially released in Canada in English?
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