Lens Behind the Iron Curtain, part 3
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Kreznar, Frank L.
label: Collection Creator
content: Kreznar, Sonia
setName: label: See more items in
content: Frank L. Kreznar films
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1 Film reel (20 minutes, color sound, 728 feet, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1965
container: label: Container
content: Item 1997.17.11
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Moving Images
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Part 3 of edited film created by Kreznar during a guided tour of the Soviet Union in 1965.  Part 3 consists of footage of Tashkent, Bukhara, and Samarkand in Uzbekistan mainly of public places with a special emphasis on historically important buildings. Throughout the footage Kreznar shows modern apartment buildings as they are being constructed, with his commentary discussing the Soviets' efforts to modernize the territories under their control and the recent population growth in these cities. Kreznar is also interested in the modes of public transportation in each city such as street cars although footage of the Uzbek cities include shots of donkeys and carts still being heavily used as a means of transport. Kreznar also takes an interest in religion in this footage, showing churches and mosques in disrepair or having been de-sanctified and converted into housing, museums, or other government administrated buildings. Kreznar notes that this is due to the Soviet government's anti-religious policy, but he also shows some churches and mosques under recently started restoration due to the government's realization of the touristic value of these sites. Women are shown doing road construction in Tashkent. Film concludes with shot of Muslims praying in public in Samarkand.

Film is broken up into three parts, each with its own opening title screen, although, the narrative seems to be continuous and the footage likely follows the original chronological order of the guided tour. This footage was shot silent with no live audio recorded during the tour. Voiceover audio commentary and background music added by Kreznar during editing.