Five weeks ago, Vintage Voice zoomed in on the Ukraine; this week, we swing the camera back at Russia, with a pair of movie reviews.

Youth for Putin.  Wanda Waterman reviews the 2011 documentary drama Putin’s Kiss, which focuses on Russia’s NASHI youth movement.  “The extremists in NASHI fly obscene (in the shape of a penis and testicles) miniature helicopters over their opponents’ rallies. In a show of deep-rooted pathology they defecate on the hoods of ‘enemy’ cars.”  The Mindful Bard – Putin’s Kiss, March 22, 2013.

Art imitates life.  Waterman reviews the bleak 2010 drama My Joy.  “In post-Soviet Russia, ‘might makes right’ seems to be the only moral standard. Contrary to the theme of The Lord of the Rings, not only has good lost the battle, it’s also lost the will to fight.”  The Mindful Bard – My Joy, June 8, 2012.