The Soviet Ukraine

Duration: 800(2 400 ft reels)

Year Published: 1977

Creator: Ukrainian newsreel and documentary film studios

Complete Record: reel one: The Dnieper River is a symbol of Ukraine, it’s been depicted in folklore legends since early history. From the Capenean Mountains to Donetsk, from Pollentia to the Black Sea lies Soviet Ukraine. Boats on the river, bridges crossing that river, bridges splitting so that bigger ships may pass. Rooftops of Churches, Governments buildings, aerial shots of the city. Small boats on the river, people on boats enjoying the sunshine. Wonderful aerial shot of Lastochkino Gnezdo, more aerial shots of the river Dneper. Kharkov, the place where on Dec. 25th 1917 Ukraine united under Lenin. Museum of Folk Architecture and Folk Handicrafts of the Ukraine. The Home Museum of Taras Hryhorovich Shevchenko, a nationally proclaimed Ukrainian poet, the hut where he used to live is now made into a museum in his memory. Shots of the modern city and buildings now in comparison to the huts that were just displayed. Streets with cars and busses on them, people getting on and off busses , huge foot traffic on the streets, mothers with their children. Aerial shots of Kiev the Capital of the Soviet Republic, modern buildings everywhere, fountains going off during the day. The Steel Heart of the Ukraine is Dnepropetrovsk, and we see a hydrofoil boat pass by under a bridge. Donetsk is a city of coal and roses, one of the cleanest cities in the world. The country’s Southern Sea Gates lie in beautiful Odessa, the ports of Odessa. The Ever Burning Fire which is a ‘Symbol of a Grave’ of the unknown soldiers in lost in the WW2, the people that haven’t been found or haven’t been claimed. Old B&W shots of WW2, of Soviet villages burned, 28 thousand villages and 714 towns were destroyed. Victory over fascism, tank in the street, the fascist sign being brought down, flag with a swastika on the ground, Soviet Soldiers shooting rounds from their pistol into the air as a sign of victory. The Ever burning fire, a couple of newlyweds are staring at the Fire. The Rebuilding of the Soviet Ukraine after the war, the whole country was rebuilding the power station of the Dnieper, Ukraine also produces the biggest cargo planes in the world, automobiles for the whole country. reel two: Space Station where Gagarin is getting applauded by pretty girls with pretty flowers. Research Institute, scientists working on stuff. “The man of labor is the master of the country” these words symbolized the meaning of the Soviet way of life, the active participation of the workers in running the state as well as the laws of the Soviet democracy. Lives of Soviet workers and their accomplishments, aerial shots of the fields of grain. A profile of a female farmer, then of a steel worker and all of them are devout communists. Inside shot of the Soviet parliament. Aerial shots of the building of houses, all the citizens have the right to housing, children going on the first day because they have flowers in their hands. Housing, education, children’s day care center, all of this is free of charge. Children are the only privileged class. Children learning English in school, a classroom where a young pioneer stands up and recites the poem about ‘Spring’ to his class and teacher, young comsomoltsi are playing outside of school, couple of them have this crazy looking toy tank that they play with. This country is very rich in education and takes pride in that, 73% of the workers have a secondary or higher education. The republic has over 143 colleges and universities and 724 junior colleges. The State provides each person with a medical aid free of charge. New born babies being shown in a row in the post-delivery room. Busy beaches of the black and the Ozov Seas are shown here. Ukrainian resort cities are shown, every soviet worker was provided with and annual vacation leave. In the Carpenean Mountains there is a celebration where dancers in traditional Ukrainian garb perform folk Ukrainian dances and shepherds get sent away for a whole season. More traditional Ukrainian dances; multiple weddings. Traditional Ukrainians greeting us with a loaf of bread which is the traditional way, also with a shot of vodka and a grain of salt. A wrap up of how wonderful communism is and how devoted the soviet people are to it.