Alexander Markov / Russia, Portugal / 2022 / 65′ / Russian, English | Italian and English Subtitles

After gaining independence in the early 1960s, the young African nations are greeted by an unexpected and enigmatic friend from a far-off continent. Independent Africa receives a seemingly endless stream of Soviet parliamentarians, who arrive on the continent to pay respect to the newly independent states. These ambassadors of the nation with a ‘bright future’ radiate friendliness and offer assistance in technical, social and cultural development under the banner of a new ideology of equality and fraternity.
But is everything as rosy as the Soviet propaganda claims? Are there any strings attached to the Soviet Union’s goodwill? What were the real objectives of the Red Empire?

ScreenplayAlexander Markov
ProducerStanislav Poplavskii, Rui Ribeiro, Ansgar Shaefer

Alexander Markov

Alexander Markov is a documentary filmmaker, cinema historian and artist. Born in Leningrad, Russia on January 28, 1973. Teaches documentary directing at Saint Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television, and works as an independent curator. His video installations were shown at Sharjah Biennial, Calvert 22, Iwalewahaus, Africa.Cont, CEU etc. Markov’s films have won prizes and have been shown at various international film festivals like Berlinale Talents, Visions Du Reel, DocPoint, Sheffield Doc, Film Africa, NYAFF, Artdocfest, Cinefest, and others. Markov has directed a number of documentary films, including: Museum of Dreams (5 min, 35 mm, 2000); Lullaby (20 min, 35 mm, 2002); Cities within Cities (26 min, BetaSP, 2003); Russian Costa Rica (52 min, HDV, 2008); Two Highways (26 min, BetaSP, 2008); Pastoral (26 min, HDV, 2008); Delusion (7 min, HDV, 2010); Children of the Sun (15 min, HD, 2011); Get Used to This Place (15 min, HD, 2011); German Portraits Russian Style (15 min, HD, 2012), Our Africa (45 min, HD, 2018).