Russia with Simon Reeve

[ardcarp]

I don't know if this has been commented on elsewhere. I have found this series fascinating. SR has an engaging personality and one might have anticipated that this programme would be, well, a bit trendy. But it seems to me he has brought the reality of Putin's Russia into sharp focus. Certainly no punches pulled. I also guess it was made with minimal 'crew', giving the programme a spontaneous feel. I really recommend it.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b096sbzx

[DracoM]

[gradus]

This was outstandingly good and full of original and interesting things. The problems of the Crimea's water supply had escaped me entirely - has anyone else told us this before?

[oddoneout]

This was outstandingly good and full of original and interesting things.

In my experience the hallmark of his programmes. Intelligent understated approach which credits his viewers with the ability to form their own opinions from the information provided, and in many cases provides a welcome alternative to the sensationalised so-called 'news' reporting of some of the issues in the countries he visits.

[pastoralguy]

We saw the last 40 minutes last night and enjoyed it. It highlighted that the fall communism has been good for SOME individuals but not the majority. What I do worry about in these programmes are the consequences for the ordinary people appearing. Would the young woman who was filmed during her court appearance now be languishing in a gulag (or worse) for having been critical of the state on television? I did rather hope we'd be updated on her progress.

[Lat-Literal]

Yes - I had posted something after the previous one but in a strange place : "World Music : Haven't Heard That One in a While". Afterwards, I thought I should have put it in the "Schedules" thread. Reproduced here - and it indicates I agree with the comments. He was also good in another series which had a section on the Greek islands and the boat people:

"I've just been watching Simon Reeve in Russia. The clever way of editing is such that it can make one think one would like to be him in such places or, if not, there with him as a travelling companion as I have a feeling that we would get on reasonably well. But, realistically, I think it probable that the extreme weather, the likelihood of armed conflict breaking out at any moment and the two week train journeys are such that television is a better option. Anyhow, an interesting series on a fascinating country which on paper would be impossible to manage given its diversity. I don't know how anyone runs it. Quite a bit of Tuva in this episode if you missed it. And with an emphasis on throat singing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...es-1-episode-2

Tuvan Throat Singing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY1pcEtHI_w

(I hadn't heard it for a while)"

[DracoM]

We saw the last 40 minutes last night and enjoyed it. It highlighted that the fall communism has been good for SOME individuals but not the majority. What I do worry about in these programmes are the consequences for the ordinary people appearing. Would the young woman who was filmed during her court appearance now be languishing in a gulag (or worse) for having been critical of the state on television? I did rather hope we'd be updated on her progress.

Yes, quite a lot of un-tied-up ends.
Maybe we can sense a second series already in which SR goes back to see how many people he interviewed are still out of jail.

[BBMmk2]

I like anything that SR does. This is very typical of him. The pesky Russian authorities following him. Glasnost exists in Russia? Methinks not?

[Lat-Literal]

Have now watched the third episode on I-Player. Again, very good indeed although I could have done without the medical aspects. I hadn't realized until I took to Wikipedia that he is 45. He is doing well on it although from my experience he has about two years to go before he puts on twenty years if not in appearance then attitude. The Russia as presented is part early to mid 20th Century Russia, part 1950s Britain, part 1960s and 1970s America and part the western world of 2017 in extremis. That means it is never less than fascinating.

I wasn't aware of the bridge being constructed from Crimea and felt that I should have known about it. According to Wiki, Putin's judo pal is not merely financing it but allegedly he has lent considerable money to a company based in the British Virgin Islands. And why not? All of the other ludicrously mega-rich people of the world have covert operations there.

I am a friend of Russia. I see a common cause in the need to defend secular society, Christian society and even half-baked hippy communes from so-called Islamic state. I also fully support the Russian annexation of Crimea. I was, therefore, a little disappointed, though not surprised, that it wasn't explained how it was an opportunist reaction to typical Ukrainian mayhem triggered by Senator John McCain, Dutch internet propagandists, the EU and extreme American neo-conservatives who under both Bush and Obama were in very high places.

Obviously there are issues. Gay marriage for many is one such but from the way in which people talk about it anyone might think it had been in existence in the west since the 1700s. As for the woman whose voice of protest wasn't being heard against the mass clearance of old housing, that happens here whatever the processes may imply and it always has done.

[vinteuil]

I also fully support the Russian annexation of Crimea.

... Mr Putin will be delighted to hear that you think so.



.

[ardcarp]

My grand-daughter's 'best friend' has a Russian mother. Her babushka, who lives in one of those now rather derelict parts of rural Western Russia featured in the programme, comes to stay for a few months each year. She (the babushka) looks back on the communist era with fond reminiscences of village life where the state 'looked after you'.

[Lat-Literal]

... Mr Putin will be delighted to hear that you think so.



.

Good - all the realistic alternatives to Putin would be a nightmare for us.

[vinteuil]

Good - all the realistic alternatives to Putin would be a nightmare for us.

... well, of course, Stalin was "our friend" when we needed help.


.

[Lat-Literal]

... well, of course, Stalin was "our friend" when we needed help.


.

Goodness.....this is the Clinton/Merkel line which depicts Russia as wholly unreformed.

Putin isn't Stalin.

However, history to some extent is repeating.

When we needed Stalin's help it was to keep out Hitler and there are a fair few would-be leaders of Russia today who are pretty close to Hitler in policy and tone.

Different arrangements - not country vs country but internal to Russia - and in that sense, well yes, there is a similar role.

To expand a little, there is no doubt that there is a certain sensibility in Russia that is uneasy with a number of aspects of greater liberalism. It is also true that Putin as a character instinctively has a dominant way. But also one can see that the muscularity in the approach is there to minimize the appeal of those who would be more authoritarian. Furthermore, there is, I believe, a genuine concern about liberalism as a gateway to fascism. That is to say when liberalism is strong it is fine and when it is so weak that it is unpopular it leads to greater extremism. Because the reformed Russia is still young, the economy and the social structures are not mature and hence robust. Putin will be aware of Weimar. He also knows what is happening in mature liberal societies following failure. There is no reason for him to think that it wouldn't happen in a liberal Russia with faster, devastating consequences.

[DracoM]

Well, one thread running through the Reeve series has been how run down, neglected and left out are the very proletarian inner cities [except where lucrative demolition for re-builds can be guaranteed to 'investors' ], and way out beyond the golden triangle in the middle and east of the nation, particularly agricultural communities. MANY kept saying that it had been better under the Soviet regime than now. Those hospital sequences were chilling. Hope Putin was watching, but bet he wasn't?

What sort of indictment is that of the whole Putin / mates kleptocracy?