The Russian Question

The Russian Question (Russian: Русский вопрос, Russkiy vopros) is a Soviet political drama by renowned filmmaker Mikhail Romm. The film is an adaptation of a play of the same name by Soviet poet and journalist Konstantin Simonov.

Subject 
New York, 1946: a leading US newspaper company sends Harry Smith, a talented correspondent, to the Soviet Union. His task is to write a scaremongering report about the Soviet belligerent and expansionist intentions in order to further a widespread campaign of propaganda undertaken by the American media and the conservative elite. Harry, a former war correspondent, accepts the attractive deal and sets off to Soviet Russia only to fall in love with a country quite different from the picture shown by the "free press" in its Cold War adversary. Back in the United States, Harry finds himself torn by a dilemma between his consciousness as an honest journalist, and the menacing pressure of his superiors, forcing him to write a convenient untruth.

Keeping its ideological design in mind, The Russian Question remains a sophisticated and objective, if somewhat critical portrayal of American Cold War political society. Unlike many other Soviet propaganda films, Romm's drama takes on an American perspective, only showing the Soviet Union discussed in the movie for a short combination of shots. The bulk of the film is centered on American culture, society, politics, history, economy and way of life.

Cast 
 Vsevolod Aksyonov — Harry Smith
 Yelena Kuzmina — Jessie
 Mikhail Astangov — McFerson
 Mikhail Nazvonov — Gould
 Mariya Barabanova — Meg
 Boris Poslavsky — Hardy
 Boris Tenin — Morphy
 Arkadi Tsinman — Preston
 Mikhail Troyanovsky — Williams
 Gennadi Yudin — Parker
 Viktor Dragunsky — Radio announcer

Awards 
 1991 — Berlin International Film Festival

References

External links
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ePawW0W-do - Full movie on the official Mosfilm YouTube Channel
 The Russian Question on mosfilm.ru

Category:Soviet films
Category:Russian-language films
Category:Films directed by Mikhail Romm
Category:Soviet black-and-white films
Category:Mosfilm films
Category:Films set in the United States
Category:1947 films
Category:Films about journalism
Category:Soviet drama films
Category:1940s drama films