There is instead a simple honesty to the comical depiction of an entire profession suddenly rendered irrelevant by its own relentless dedication over the past 40 years. If there is any political message, it is that glasnost has done some good. It has given a sense of renewal to the Soviet people, a new hope. And by doing so, it has given new hope to the world. At the same time, the film also reminds us that while the reforms in the Soviet Union have unleashed powerful voices, little action has been taken to restore real political and economic freedom.
Goods are in short supply, and fear remains.
But the war of ideas is clearly over, and love is no longer merely an escape from brutal reality but an end to achieve in itself. Copyright 1991 by The Tech. All rights reserved. This story was originally published on Wednesday, January 16, 1991. The story was printed on page 12.