Slavic

Servant of the People / Слуга народу

Servant of the People (Слуга народу) is a Ukrainian political satire comedy TV show, produced by Kvartal 95 Studio and directed by Alexey Kiryushchenko. The premier of the first season was released on November 16, 2015, on the Ukrainian TV channel 1 + 1. As if it was predicting a political phenomenon that will actually […]

Read more

Polish Soccer: An Introductory Guide

The history of soccer in Poland begins when the county didn’t technically exist – having been partitioned by larger powers. Like the rest of the country, Polish soccer eventually united after Poland was reassembled after WWI. Soccer was again set back in WWII when the Nazis banned the Poles from organizing games, fearing that fed […]

Żywiołak: Pagan Rock from Poland with a Modern Mindset

Żywiołak, initially formed in Warsaw in 2005, is a Polish folk rock band steeped in mythos. Its name references the Elemental, a magical being said to harness the power of nature in the form of air, fire, water, or earth. Their lyrics sing of epic battles (in Wojownik, or Warrior) and explore the traditions of […]

The Hunter (2011): Learning Russian Through Film

The Hunter (2011; Охотник), directed by Bakur Bakuradze, is a film of few words. Starring Mikhail Barskovich, Tatyana Shapolova, and Gera Avdochenok, the film employs lesser-known actors in the creation of this deeply moving picture. The film was critically well received and was nominated for the UN Certain Regard Award at the 2011 Cannes Film […]

Leviathan (2014): Learning Russian Through Film

Leviathan (2014; Левиафан) is a powerful film that lives up to its theological title. The film stars well-known actors who participated in director Andrey Zviaginstev’s other pictures, namely Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, and Roman Madyanov. Zviaginstev is known for his landscape-heavy film style in which the sublime seems to play its own character. This can […]

The Bremen Town Musicians: Songs of Freedom and Controversy

The Bremen Town Musicians (Бременские музыканты) is one of the first animated rock operas released in the USSR. It has since become popular among all generations, first in the Soviet Union and later gained reputation internationally. One of the film’s main draws was its unforgettable soundtrack and style, which drew from the latest global fashions […]

FO SHO: Three Black, Jewish Sisters Driving Ukrainian Hip-Hop

When she was six years old, Bethlehem (Betty) Endale’s parents asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. She still clearly remembers her reply: “Well, I will be a singer.” With her sisters Miriam and Siona, Betty went on to form the group FO SHO, a hip-hop project that has garnered both […]

Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession

Ivan Vasilievich Changes Profession (Иван Васильевич меняет профессию) is a legendary Russian-language comedy film released in 1973 under the USSR. It is is available for free on YouTube with English and Russian subtitles and HD quality. At once a comedy, a sci-fi, and a (very loosely) period piece, its surreal storyline spans both the 20th […]

Milos Bikovic: Serbian Actor and Producer

Milos Bikovic (Милош Бикович) is a Serbian and Russian film actor, theatrical performer, and producer. He is best known for his roles in modern Russian films and TV serials. Born on 13 January 1988 in Belgrade, he became a Russian citizen in 2021 after living and working there for many years. Milos acted in national […]

1 2 3 78