The Soviet Woman II

The film program is connected with the exhibition Soviet Woman in Kumu Art Museum. When Soviet power was established in Estonia, the idea of a new type of woman began to be imposed, expressed and asserted in art, photography, film and other fields by specific character types. Released from gender limitations and given equality with men in all respects, the main task of the Soviet woman was to work – to build the new communist state. The Soviet woman was depicted as an energetic and strong-minded female Stakhanovite and collective farmer, teacher, scientist, war heroine and guerrilla fighter. All these new heroines were connected by ‘chaste femininity’ – masculinity and moral nobility – which was supposed to lead to new labour achievements. The film program is dealing with the influence of the past experiences on us today.

HELLO, GIRLS!
Director Valeria Anderson, Estonia 1962, 20’
A peculiar promotional film of the fine and playful life of the girls in the Sommerling state farm.

… AND WOMEN
Director Heini Drui, Estonia 1989, 17’
A film depicting the life of a Soviet woman on the background of the collapsing Soviet Union.

SELECTION OF NEWSREELS "SOVIET ESTONIA" FROM 1946–1959

Introduction by Kädi Talvoja