Propaganda and disinformation in Russia and Nazi Germany in the theater
“I tell them that they are influenced by Russian propaganda, they tell me that I am influenced by European propaganda,” actress Elvíra Nikitina describes in the documentary how she communicates with her relatives in Russia. She believes she made them think anyway. “But it’s a long-term job,” he says.
The plays of the MA Theater reflect the clash of reality with war disinformation and the battle of rationality with ideological brainwashing (To Kill the Dragon, Addressee Unknown), they concern emigration due to wars and economic crises (Buenos Aires, get out!) and the inhumane conditions of concentration camps (Gramofon).
“Coincidence played a big role. Sometime in the summer of 2021, I was walking past the MA Theater in Žitná and noticed a poster advertising a summer performance in Grébovce. An interesting environment, games with current content, and, as I soon found out, the charismatic founder of the theater, Marianna Arzumanová. So I recorded a radio interview with Marianna and that was the end of it for now.” describes Václav Müller, author and director of the film, otherwise an editor, radio and television editor.
“At the end of February 2022, Russia then invaded Ukraine and the propaganda and disinformation spiral went into overdrive. The plays of the MA Theater suddenly became a reality. The news I read on the radio was confirmed by the stories of the individual members of the ensemble. Stories about the clash of generations in the view of war, about splits in families, between loved ones,” Müller added.
Russian actress and dancer Marianna Arzumanová left Moscow in 2000. For ten years she worked as an editor for Radio Free Europe in Moscow and then in Prague. In 2013, she directed her first Prague premiere, Buenos Aires, come out!
“Václav captured the emotional moment when we tried to come to terms with the fact that we have war here again, in such a short distance from the Second World War… This is what makes the documentary unique,” comments on the new movie.
The preview of the film takes place on October 20 at the home stage MA Theaters, located at Žitná Street 41. The screening of the film starts at 7:30 p.m., tickets can be purchased in the Goout network. “Slaying the Dragon” will premiere on November 10 Central European Film Festival in the Municipal Library on Mariánské náměstí in Prague.
Marianna Arzumanová.
Author: Jiří Akir