Podarok Stalinu

Podarok Stalinu (2008) directed by Rustem Abdrashitov, is shown in the U.S. with the title, "A Gift for Stalin." The film's setting is Kazakhstan, a country on the steppes of Central Asia. The Soviets subdued the Kazakh population, and then used Kazakhstan as a destination for forced migrations, and as a site for penal colonies. It is not a pleasant history to contemplate.

The film opens in a freight car, just as an old Jewish man is dying. He utters the Hebrew prayer that Jews want on their lips at the moment of death. His young grandson is with him. When the train arrives, officials unload the dead, including the boy. As it turns out, the boy is alive, and is rescued by two local railroad workers. The remainder of the film traces the boy's experiences in a nearby village, and the interaction of those around him with local police and Soviet military officials.

There are moments of humor in the film, as well as acts of great tenderness and caring. However, the situation is basically tragic, and there's an undercurrent of fear even during the quiet moments.

The acting is uniformly excellent. If I had to single out one truly outstanding performance, it would be that of Yekaterina Rednikova as Verka, a young woman sent to Kazakhstan because her husband was a political prisoner in Russia.

As it turns out, the young boy's parents are also political prisoners. The "gift for Stalin" is his attempt to convince the authorities that his parents should be freed.

We saw this fine film at the excellent Rochester Jewish Film Festival. It's probably best seen in a theater, but it will work pretty well a small screen. It's definitely worth seeking out.