DG - Belarusian Waltz - PBS

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Discussion Guide | Belarusian WaltzTable of ContentsSeason21Credits, Acknowledgments3 Introduction4 Background Information4 Belarus4 Location and History4 People4 Economics5 Politics5 Holidays6 Alexander Lukashenko7 Alexander Pushkin8 Selected People Featuredin Belarusian Waltz9 General Discussion Questions10 Discussion Prompts11 Taking Action13 Resources15 How to Buy the FilmWriterFaith Rogow, PhDInsighters Educational ConsultingResearch EditorDaniel McDermonGuide Producers, P.O.V.Eliza LichtDirector, Community Engagement and Education, P.O.V.Jessica LeeOutreach and Development Coordinator, P.O.V.Irene VillaseñorYouth Views Manager, P.O.V.Research Editor: Daniel McDermonDesign: Rafael JiménezCopy Editor: Joan D. SaundersThanks to those who reviewed this guide:Andrzej Fidyk,Director, Belarusian WaltzJulia Homstad,University of Toronto,M.A., European, Russian and Eurasian StudiesBryce Kirchoff,Community Outreach Manager, Wisconsin Public Television© American Documentary, Inc.2
Discussion Guide | Belarusian WaltzIntroductionSeason21Belarus has been called “Europe’s last dictatorship.” Since1994, Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republicwith a despotic hand, jailing the opposition, shutting down thepress and refusing to investigate the assassinations ofdissidents. Though he has virtually silenced his critics, oneperformance artist manages to stage public stunts mocking thedictator’s pretensions. Belarusian Waltz, a feature-length (52minutes) film, follows Alexander Pushkin, whose audaciousexploits evoke hostility from the police and consternation fromhis family.Belarusian Waltz is awash with contradictions. As Pushkindiscovers, it isn’t easy being a rebel in country where themajority of people support a dictatorship precisely because it isKupala Night.Photo courtesy of Belarusian Waltz/Piraya Filmsa dictatorship. An introduction to Belarus might sound like aRod Serling voiceover: “a country inhabiting a twilight realmsomewhere between past and present, East and West, with alost national identity and an imposed colonial one, wherefreedom is slavery, and dictatorship is the new democracy.”Because of its subject’s complexity, Belarusian Waltz can sparkrich discussions about the tensions between ethnic identity andtotalitarianism, nationalism and freedom, leadership andhuman nature.© American Documentary, Inc.3
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DG - Belarusian Waltz - PBS

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