'900 Dagen' (900 Days) is a documentary about the German siege of Leningrad (now known as St. Petersburg) during World War II and how Russia still tries to keep its history under covers by handing out medals, keeping quiet about the facts and throwing big parades of misplaced joy and pride.
Several survivors talk about their gruesome experiences of hunger, chaos, denial and government control and oppression, as for instance the endearing lady with the cats, who witnessed the deaths of her sisters and mother, and that is not all... Cannibalism was a fact that almost no one wanted or wants to talk or hear about in Russia, but the facts are there. The documentary vividly points out that this history may likely not be known in Russia anymore in the future, as the elderly witnesses are dying out and the youth just don't want to know or seem to care.
Of course, in the rest of the world it will never be forgotten (though I'm thinking there múst be Russians who keep these facts in check as well) and one can only hope that Russia will one day wise up... The portraits of the(se) people who survived left me without words and deserve to be heard and seen.
Unfortunately, I saw a somewhat shorter version of 65 minutes on Dutch television.
Several survivors talk about their gruesome experiences of hunger, chaos, denial and government control and oppression, as for instance the endearing lady with the cats, who witnessed the deaths of her sisters and mother, and that is not all... Cannibalism was a fact that almost no one wanted or wants to talk or hear about in Russia, but the facts are there. The documentary vividly points out that this history may likely not be known in Russia anymore in the future, as the elderly witnesses are dying out and the youth just don't want to know or seem to care.
Of course, in the rest of the world it will never be forgotten (though I'm thinking there múst be Russians who keep these facts in check as well) and one can only hope that Russia will one day wise up... The portraits of the(se) people who survived left me without words and deserve to be heard and seen.
Unfortunately, I saw a somewhat shorter version of 65 minutes on Dutch television.
