Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.
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NEWS: Battleship Potemkin docks in The Light cinemas on Sun 26th Oct + more silent film screening news!
5:39
And our host Ally Pitts is introducing the screening in Banbury! Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece finishes its centenary run in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on Sunday 26th October 2025 with screenings at The Light cinemas. Those The Light locations are in: Addlestone, Bolton, Bradford, Cambridge, Huddersfield, New Brighton, Redhill, Sheffield,…
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Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece continues its centenary run in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in throughout September and October 2025. Since we published a mini-episode about this BFI season last week, our intrepid host has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at MK Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm. He's also in talks …
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Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 masterpiece is in cinemas in the UK and Ireland in late August, and through September and October 2025. UPDATE: Since this mini-episode was originally published, our intrepid host Ally Pitts has been confirmed as providing the intro to the screening at Milton Keynes Gallery on Friday 26th September at 7pm, and he's also in …
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NEWS: Ally Pitts curates Jane Austen 250th anniversary film season! Plus Whit Stillman tour, and podcast recommendations!
5:50
Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a season of films adapted from or inspired by the works of Jane Austen that he has co-curated with the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also mentions Whit Stillman's UK tour in late July 2025. And Soviet Winnie the Pooh. Obviously. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type…
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Ballad of a Soldier (Grigori Chukhrai; 1959)
2:19:40
2:19:40
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2:19:40Matthew Chadourne, stand-up comedian, executive producer and creative director of the Oxford Comedy Festival, and co-host of the Saint Misbehavin' podcast joins host Ally Pitts to discuss this understated Oscar and Bafta-winning classic by Ukrainian-born World War II veteran Grigori Chukhrai. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://oxfor…
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NEWS: Tarkovsky’s Mirror in Oxford, PLUS Soviet cinema at PCC, and Hugo Max silent film screening tour
3:52
Host Ally Pitts shares some news about a screening of Andrei Tarkovsky's Mirror that he'll be introducing on Sunday 25th May as part of the Dreamscapes classic season at Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. He also shares news about screenings of Soviet films at the Prince Charles Cinema, and shares details of silent film screenings with live music b…
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NEWS: Come and See (Elem Klimov; 1985) 40th anniversary and Antifa on Screen season at the UPP in Oxford
6:06
Host Ally Pitts highlights the 40th anniversary of Come and See, directed by Elem Klimov, shares news about a season of films on the theme of anti-fascism at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford, and brings attention to a couple of other anti-fascist/anti-totalitarian/anti-cult of personality films. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Antif…
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WORLD SHAKESPEARE DAY BONUS: Boris Pasternak, Grand Theft Hamlet, Andrei Tarkovsky, Richard. E. Grant, the 'other' Stratford, and the Bard
11:56
Host Ally Pitts discusses the 2024 documentary Grand Theft Hamlet, directed by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, shares how Hamlet became his favourite Shakespeare play, and explores its connection to and influence on two of Russian culture's most famous figures, Boris Pasternak and Andrei Tarkovsky. And he talks about Withnail and I. Again. Not necessar…
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Matthew Chadourne, stand-up comedian, executive producer and creative director of the Oxford Comedy Festival, and co-host of the Saint Misbehavin' podcast joins host Ally Pitts to talk about his various comedy and movie-related projects. This is designed to serve as an appetizer for an upcoming episode on Grigory Chukrai’s Ballad of a Soldier with …
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To celebrate the Latvian film Flow winning the best animation category at the 2025 Oscars, Ally Pitts introduces an episode from previous guest Kristaps Andrejsons, which was originally published on his show, The Eastern Border. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/a-russian-soviet-movie-podcast-594862/episo…
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In your home and maybe in your town? Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcast For a 30-day free trial of the streaming service Klassiki: https://klassiki.online/arussiansovietmoviepodcast/ If you use the code RUPOD50, you can…
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NEWS: Soviet Silent Comedies at Slapstick Festival 2025 in Bristol PLUS podcast recommendations
3:58
Host Ally Pitts highlights several Soviet silent comedy films screening at Slapstick Festival 2025 in Bristol, UK, and makes some podcast recommendations. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://slapstick.org.uk/slapstick-festival-2025/ https://pamhutch.wordpress.com/about/ Pamela Hutchinson's podcast appearances https://www.annabogutska…
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Host Ally Pitts looks back at some highlights of 2024 and looks ahead to 2025. Note from Ally: Unfortunately, the audio for this episode is not up to the usual standard due to a mistake on my part. On balance I thought it was better to release it now as is rather than defer a week until I'd have time to re-record. Thanks for understanding, and plea…
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INTERVIEW: Juliet Merchant, film composer & musician
1:23:39
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1:23:39Composer and musician Juliet Merchant joins host Ally Pitts to discuss some of the silent films she has written scores for. At the time of recording, six of the films Juliet has composed scores for are available on the streaming service Klassiki, which is available in the UK, the US, and the Republic of Ireland. Here’s a link to a 30-day free trial…
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Ally Pitts announces a screening of Lev Kuleshov’s By the Law; 3pm on Sunday 24th November '24 at the Barbican Cinema, and a screening of Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin at the Winter Gardens in Morecambe in Lancashire on at 7.15pm on Saturday 30th November '24. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on…
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100 years of Aelita: Queen of Mars (Yakov Protazanov; 1924) [classic episode re-release with new intro, outro and music]
1:19:38
1:19:38
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1:19:38Classic episode re-release, featuring music by composer Juliet Merchant. In this episode, originally released in August 2018, Sarah Roberts, artist and podcaster, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this early Soviet silent sci-fi adventure. SPOILERS from about 16 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: discussion of the film's depiction of abusive rela…
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Host Ally Pitts shares news about two exhibitions running in 2024 that feature the work of artist Alexandra Exter. He also discusses a previous film covered on the podcast, Aelita, which she worked on as a costume designer and set decorator. The Royal Academy of Art's exhibition is In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine from 1900 to the 1930…
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Host Ally Pitts shares news about the BFI's Béla Tarr retrospective season Will Heaven Fall Upon Us? Ally's local, the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford is one of the participating UK cinemas. Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: Béla Tarr retrospective Season at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford For a 30-day free trial of the streaming s…
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Nostalgia AKA Nostalghia (Andrei Tarkovsky; 1983)
1:25:03
1:25:03
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1:25:03International(?) man of mystery Lyn Seren joins Ally Pitts to discuss Andrei Tarkovsky's penultimate film. We also talk about rückenfigurs and Milton Keynes artists Boyd & Evans a bit! Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: International Association for Suicide Prevention’s directory: https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/ UK: https://www.sama…
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NEWS: Man with a Movie Camera, 60 years of Mikhail Kalatozov’s I am Cuba, and Oxford Meet-ups
4:23
Links mentioned in the episode: The Top 100 Podcast with Tim Coleman: Man with a Movie Camera episode with Ally Pitts. Saint Audio Podcast Festival line-up Saint Audio Podcast Festival announcement episode. I am Cuba, directed by Mikhail Kalatozov, screening at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford. At the time of recording, Salt for Svanetia is av…
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Saint Audio Podcast Festival is happening over the late May Bank Holiday Weekend (that's 23-26 May), in Oxford, UK! See you there, maybe? Links mentioned in the episode: Saintaudiopodcastfestival.com Screening of Spice World (1997) at the Ultimate Picture Palace, presented by The Flop House podcast. Contact us/socials: (We've changed the name of th…
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FEED TAKEOVER: Ally guests on Projection Booth episode on Amphibian Man (Vladimir Chebotaryov, Gennadi Kazansky; 1961)
1:46:10
1:46:10
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1:46:10Ally Pitts introduces an episode of The Projection Booth he guested on in 2022. Links mentioned in the episode: Listen to the rest of Ally's guest appearances on The Projection Booth. Contact us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the social handles are staying the same for now). Email: [email protected] Letterboxd: https://letterbox…
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EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Alissa Timoshkina in conversation with Catriona Kelly on Russian Food Since 1800
2:39
Professor Catriona Kelly will be discussing her new book Russian Food Since 1800: Empire at Table with previous guest on this show, Alissa Timoshkina at Pushkin House in London on Friday 15th March 2024. It's an in-person & online hybrid event, which will from 6.30 to 8.00 pm GMT. Find out more about the event and buy tickets at pushkinhouse.org Ou…
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In the spirit of High Fidelity, Ally Pitts brings you an audio listicle of some awesome movies he saw for the first time in 2023. They are, in the order they appear on the episode: - Conscience (Volodymr Denisenko; 1968) - Fright Night (Tom Holland; 1985) - Chameleon Street (Wendell B. Harris Jr; 1989) - The Queen of Spades (Thorold Dickinson;1949)…
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Links mentioned in the episode: Cinemas screening Tchaikovsky's Wife (UK and Republic of Ireland): sovereignfilms.co.uk/tchaikovskyswife The Guardian's Pjotr Sauer interviews Kirill Serebrennikov BBFC content advice for Tchaikovsky's Wife To receive a 50% discount on an annual subscription to Klassiki, please use the code RUPOD50 at checkout. Visit…
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Probably not the best place to start if you're arriving at this feed for the first time.Ally Pitts
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Ally Pitts reviews Kira Kovalenko's 2021 Ossetian language coming of age drama Unclenching the Fists and then recommends a handful of other films currently streaming on MUBI. Links mentioned in the episode: To get a 30-day free trial of MUBI, please visit:https://mubi.com/russiansovietpod Carmen Gray's article, Scarred States: Unclenching the Fists…
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FEED TAKEOVER: Ninotchka (Ernst Lubitsch; 1939) with Ally Pitts - All the Best Lines episode
1:06:44
1:06:44
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1:06:44Ally Pitts introduces an episode of All the Best Lines, hosted by Smokey and Adam Roche, that he guested on in 2021. Links mentioned in the episode: Listen to more All the Best Lines episodes. Listen to our episode on War & Peace with Adam Roche. Listen to The Projection Booth on Ninotchka. Contact Us: (We've changed the name of the show, but the s…
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Dr Samuel Goff, editorial director at the film streaming service Klassiki, joins Ally Pitts to talk about Ally's five film picks from the Klassiki film Library. To receive a 50% discount on an annual subscription to Klassiki, please use the code RUPOD50 at checkout. Visit Klassiki.Online and sign up for a free trial! Follow Klassiki on: Letterboxd:…
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PODCAST 5th ANNIVERSARY BONUS SHOW: Battleship Potemkin (Sergei Eisenstein; 1925) Classic Schmassic episode with Ally Pitts
1:08:13
1:08:13
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1:08:13To mark the 5th anniversary of the release of the pilot episode for this show, we're taking you to on a trip into the show's pre-history...our host Ally Pitts's podcasting debut! Classic Schmassic was an amazing comedy podcast about movies from before 1980. For this episode, Ally joined hosts Chris Mead & Owen Choules to discuss Sergei Eisenstein’s…
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Ally Pitts introduces a conversation between Sean Guillory and Maria Belodubrovskaya that was originally recorded for the SRB Podcast. Find it wherever you listen to this podcast. Note: the SRB Podcast is now the Eurasian Knot. There's also a brief update on what's happening with the show. Also, Feedspot added us to their 100 best movie podcasts li…
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We highly recommend you check out this history podcast series centering on Teddy Roe, an American who visited the Soviet Union in 1968. Visit the Teddy Goes to the USSR website, or find the show wherever you get your podcasts.Ally Pitts
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The Lord Eagle (Eduard Novikov; 2018)
1:22:14
1:22:14
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1:22:14Jenny Shelton from the RSPB discusses this historical drama from Yakutia with host Ally Pitts. The film centres around an elderly couple whose grueling but predictable life in rural Siberia in the 1930s is a disrupted by the arrival of mysterious bird of prey. Episode Sponsor: You can watch The Lord Eagle, along with many other films from Eastern E…
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Podchaser.com is donating $0.25 to support World Central Kitchen's #ChefsForUkraine for every podcast review on their site from now until the end of April 2022. Russophiles Unite's Podchaser page. The Eastern Border's Podchaser page. More about Podchaser's #Reviews4Good campaign. Here's Podchaser's FAQ about #Reviews4Good. Contact Us: Twitter: @Rus…
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Petrov's Flu film screening times: https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/petrovs-flu/HO00002609/ Petrov's Flu + Q&A with Kirill Serebrennikov film screening times:: https://www.odeon.co.uk/films/petrovs-flu--qa/HO00002626/Ally Pitts
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Lyn Seren joins Ally Pitts once again, this time to discuss this surreal Canadian spoof of early Soviet film. Some Ways You Can Support the Show: First of all, please subscribe on your podcatcher of choice, if you haven't already! At the time of recording, this film was on MUBI. At the time of this update (Nov '24) it isn't but try out MUBI for fre…
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What else did Ally get up to last year when he wasn't recording Russophiles Unite episodes?Ally Pitts
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Carrie & Ally Pitts discuss a Khrushchev Thaw-era musical satirical comedy from the director of Soviet New Year staple The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!. Some Ways You Can Support the Show: First of all, please subscribe on your podcatcher of choice, if you haven't already! If you're listening from the UK, you can pick up a book from our uk.bo…
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The Lighthouse (AKA Mayak) (Maria Saakyan; 2006)
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2:15:46
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2:15:46Film historian and Hamo Bek-Nazarov Project co-founder Daniel Bird joins Ally Pitts to discuss this astonishing debut feature by the late Armenian-Russian director Maria Saakyan. To celebrate the release of the new restoration the film on region-free Blu-ray, Second Run are offering 10% off the list price of The Lighthouse and/or any other Blu-ray …
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The Lighthouse (AKA Mayak) (Maria Saakyan; 2006) Second Run Blu-ray Twitter Competition Terms & Conditions
2:30
The Lighthouse [AKA Mayak] (Maria Saakyan; 2006) Blu-ray Giveaway on Twitter A new restoration of Maria Saakyan’s stunning film The Lighthouse AKA Mayak is out on Blu-ray on 27th September 2021! To celebrate, we've teamed up with Second Run to give away 2 copies of the Blu-ray. To enter: 1) Follow @RussophilesU & @SecondRunDVD on Twitter. 2) Retwee…
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Announcement: Gentlemen Don't Get Caught, an R.E.M. Podcast, hosted by Ally Pitts & Lyn Seren
2:46
Ally Pitts and Lyn Seren are hosting podcast where they discuss the music of alternative rock legends R.E.M. one track at a time. It's called Gentlemen Don't Get Caught, and we think you should listen to it! You can find the show at this link.Ally Pitts & Lyn Seren
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STATE FUNERAL (Sergei Loznitsa; 2019)
1:16:36
1:16:36
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1:16:36Kristaps Andrejsons, journalist and host of The Eastern Border podcast, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this documentary which provides a startling insight into the cult of personality surrounding Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. STATE FUNERAL is now showing on MUBI. You can claim your free 30-day trial of their incredible film streaming service by visit…
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Gorky Park (Michael Apted; 1983)
1:23:46
1:23:46
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1:23:46Phil Manchester, former Moscow resident and pub quizmaster extraordinaire, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this adaptation of the first of Martin Cruz Smith's Arkady Renko detective novels, set in early 1980s Moscow. CONTENT WARNING: The film includes violence and gore, including violence against women. SPOILERS for both the book and the film (and inde…
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Against their better judgement, Ally & Carrie Pitts decided to watch this extremely low-budget adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic fantasy. Here are a few of their thoughts. If you'd like to get in touch, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.fa…
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Author and publisher Alex Christofi joins Ally Pitts to discuss the tumultuous life of Fyodor Dostoevsky, who is the subject of his fascinating new biography, Dostoevsky in Love, published by Bloomsbury Continuum. Listeners in the UK can pick up a copy of Dostoevsky in Love via our uk.bookshop.org affiliate link. 10% of the sale will go towards cov…
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I am Twenty (Marlen Khutsiev; 1965)
1:26:01
1:26:01
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1:26:01Nadja Bee, film critic and co-founder of KinoSelect, joins Ally Pitts to discuss a sprawling drama from the 1960s in which a group of friends navigate the trials, tribulations, and joys of young adulthood. Oh, and a youthful Andrei Tarkovsky shows up briefly as a jerk at a party. CONTENT WARNING: The film's plot includes the death of a parent. SPOI…
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A Russian Youth (Alexander Zolotukhin; 2019)
1:06:49
1:06:49
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1:06:49Lyn Seren, host of Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. Podcast, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this depiction of an adolescent conscript's experience of the First World War, which features an unusual (and perhaps not wholly successful) artistic twist. SPOILERS from about 8 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: the film discussed contains violen…
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Beanpole (Kantemir Balagov; 2019)
1:20:31
1:20:31
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1:20:31Lyn Seren, host of Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. Podcast, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this appropriately dark exploration of a relationship between two traumatised young women living in Leningrad in the aftermath of World War II. SPOILERS from about 20 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: the film discussed contains many upsetting sce…
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Kino Klassika is a UK non-profit organisation that highlights films from Russia, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. Shortly before the launch of Klassiki, Kino Klassika's new streaming service, Ally Pitts spoke to season manager Olga Doletskaya. Find out more about Kino Klassika: https://www.kinoklassikafoundation.org/ Find out more about Klassiki: ht…
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War and Peace (Sergei Bondarchuk; 1966)
1:15:40
1:15:40
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1:15:40Lyn Seren, host of Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. Podcast joins Ally Pitts to discuss this suitably epic adaptation of Lev Tolstoy's famous masterpiece. Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite Listeners in the UK can buy War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and Bondarchuk's War and Peace': Literary Classic to Sovie…
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