7 thoughts on “A Film Festival”

  2. ‘”Red Scorpion” is a 1988 American action film starring Dolph Lundgren as a Soviet Spetsnaz operative sent to assassinate an African rebel leader, but who ultimately sides with the rebels. The film was controversially filmed in South West Africa (now Namibia) with the support of the apartheid-era South African government.’

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Scorpion

    1. “Why is the hammer and sickle not as revolting as the swastika?”

      They didn’t utterly lose the Second World War. Victors get more respect than losers do. And remaining in power meant that the ugly side of the Soviets could be hidden for decades.

      1. The Allies sent enormous amounts of aid to the Soviets during the war.
        It would be kind of embarrassing to immediately turn around and say “Oops, looks like they’re worse after all.”

        And yes, they were worse. They killed and imprisoned more people, and invaded more countries. Partly because they were in power much longer. But only partly.

  4. One movie they mention is “The Lives of Others”. After the NYT published their list of top 100 movies, commentator John Podhoretz said, “OK, here’s my list. Number one: The Lives of Others. Numbers 2 thru 100: Eh…”

    So I finally broke down and gave this movie a watch. Very extraordinary film. Taut with tension, and one character tells the best communist joke of all time.

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