Films listed under the country/region were filmed in that country, are about that country/region, and/or are about that country's/region's people. Fictional films are in italics (the majority of our collection are documentaries). Click on a film title for more information about that specific film.
Afghanistan | Armenia | Balkans | Baltics | Bosnia and Herzegovina (Republic of) | Bulgaria | Central Asia | Caucasus | Croatia (Republic of) | Czech Republic | Eastern Europe | Estonia | (Former) East Germany | Georgia | Hungary | Kazakhstan | Kosovo | Kyrgyzstan | Latvia | Lithuania | Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of) | Mongolia | Poland | Romania | Russia | Serbia and Montenegro | Slovakia | Slovenia (Republic of) | (Former) Soviet Union | Turkey | Ukraine | Uzbekistan | (Former) Yugoslavia
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of
Czech Republic (Formerly Part of Czechoslovakia)
East Germany (Former)
Macedonia, Former Yugoslavian Republic of
Slovakia (Formerly Part of Czechoslovakia)
(Former) Soviet Union
Former Yugoslavia
FILMS
(Alphabetical by Title)
These films are documentaries, except where noted. This is a list of VHS videotapes and DVDs, which are located in The Ellison Center, 203B Thomson Hall, University of Washington. CHECKOUT INFORMATION: There is a TWO-WEEK checkout period (which may be extended with permission).
Abkhazia Mineclearance Programme, 1999 23 min - VHS
In Abkhazia mines were left over from the secessionist war with Georgia in 1992-93, which was characterized by front lines moving along the Black Sea coast from the Gumista River north of Sukhumi city to the Inguri River in the south. Mines were laid in flat and fertile valleys to augment the natural obstacles of the rivers. Although the war is over, these mines are now an obstacle to the repatriation of over 300,000 displaced people. Homes, agricultural land, orchards, and industrial estates lie deserted, contaminated by mines and UXOs. The economy, which was based on light industry, tourism, citrus fruits, and vineyards, is shattered. This documentary depicting the problem of mines and UXOs in Abkhazia, explains who and how they are affecting the British and US charity (HALO Trust's) efforts to tackle the problem with manual and mechanical mine clearance teams.
Afghanistan Mineclearance Programme, 1999 29 min - VHS
Afghanistan is probably the most mined country in the world, with HALO estimates of up to 640,000 mines laid since 1979. Afghanistan was heavily mined by Soviet forces during their 10 year occupation, by the communist regime of Najibullah and during localized internecine fighting between mujahideen groups. The greatest long-term effect on the civilian population was caused by the defense of the supply routes. This documentary depicting the problem of mines and Unexploded Ordnance in Afghanistan before September 11, 2001, explaining who and how they are affecting the local population and how the British and US charity (The HALO Trust) has been tackling the problem for the past ten years in the country in which they pioneered humanitarian mine clearance. With the departure of the Taliban, HALO is now expanding its capacity and clearing the last front lines.
Agents of Deception, 1987 60 min - VHS
Agents of Deception probes a top Soviet organization once devoted to media manipulation on a worldwide scale. Known as "disinformation," it flourished actively during the Cold War and affected anyone who read a newspaper or watched a newscast. Planted articles, half-truths, biased stories, secret funding of newspapers and journalists-such tactics were, and may still be, an everyday practice in the international struggle to control public opinion. Produced over a three-year period, this dynamic documentary resembles a best-selling thriller, but the situations are real.
Alexander Nevsky, 1938 (Fiction - Not Rated) 112 min - VHS
The film is about the Russian Commander Prince Alexander Yaroslavovich Nevsky under whose leadership the Russian warriors gained a historical victory in the battle against the Livon knights on Chudskoe Lake in 1242. Director Sergei Eisenstein recreated the epic tale of Prince Nevsky and his defeat of the invading Teutonic hordes. Russian with English subtitles.
Anastasia: Dead or Alive?, 1995 60 min - VHS
(NOVA) In 1918, the last Czar of Russia, his wife and children were brutally murdered by the Bolsheviks. 4 years later, a young woman surfaced in Berlin claiming to be the Czar's youngest daughter, Anastasia. NOVA tracks the investigation from a secret mass grave in Siberia to forensic DNA analysis, and discovers the surprising answer to a 75-year-old mystery. Directed by Michael Barnes.
Armand Hammer: A Life of Deception, 2002 50 min - VHS
Armand Hammer has been called many things: a capitalist, a communist, a philanthropist, a cheat, and a liar. The son of a Russian immigrant and founder of the American Communist Party, Hammer first found riches and notoriety as a businessman in the fledgling Soviet Union, where he used his operations to help launder money for the communist government. In a candid interview made shortly before his death, Hammer looks back at his long and eventful life. He recalls his financial successes in the Soviet Union and America, and his relationships with political figures, such as Lenin and Nixon. The story follows the entrepreneur's many ventures, including the Occidental Oil Company, and the interesting path that led to the Nobel Peace Prize. Archival news clips, photographs, and personal interviews tell the story of one of the 20th century's richest and most enigmatic figures. Produced by ABC News Productions for A&E Network.
Assassinations that Changed the World, 1996 3 hr. 20 min - VHS (2 videotapes)
After Trotsky was bludgeoned in the head with an ice ax, the Soviet Union hailed his killer as a hero. Hitler survived a briefcase bomb planted under a conference table only because an official complained about the lack of leg room. FDR had a near miss in 1933, when a gunman in a crowd was foiled by a quick-witted bystander. Chronicling about two dozen assassinations and unsuccessful attempts (mostly 20th century), this two-volume program recounts and often shows (with archival film and photographs, and colored drawings) the events, while historians consider the underlying reasons each was targeted, analyze the assassins and conspirators, and consider the national and international repercussions. Volume 1 includes such world figures as Franz Ferdinand, Rasputin, Tsar Nicholas II, Lenin, Trotsky, three Gandhis (Mohandas, Indira, and Rajiv), Sadat, and Rabin. American presidents comprise a large part of Volume 2, which also includes Huey Long, King, and Robert Kennedy.
At the Crossroads: Jews in Eastern Europe Today, 1989 59 min - VHS
A postwar search for identity in a rapidly changing landscape, with Klezmer Music as a guide. In 1939, the combined Jewish population of Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia was over 4 million, and is now just over 100,000. Yale Strom, musician, traveled with filmmaker Oren Rudavsky to Eastern Europe to explore the lives of Jews there. As Strom travels through Eastern Europe, we are shown the gap left by the Holocaust and a surprising is the revival of Jewish identity.
Auschwitz, Inside the Nazi State, 2005 300 min - DVD (2 disc set)
Available as a two disc DVD set, this 6-part series tells the story of the Auschwitz Death Camp, site of the largest mass murder in history. Writer Laurence Rees and his team interviewed over 100 eyewitnesses, including former Nazi perpetrators who speak on the record for the first time. Their story is brought to life through the use of archived footage, recreations of key moments, computer reconstructions based on recently discovered plans of the camp, and their testimony. Grades 9 and up.
Autumn Spring, 2002 (Fiction - Rated PG-13 for language) 95 min - DVD
A wry, bittersweet comedy in the great Czech tradition, Vladimir Michalek's AUTUMN SPRING stars the great Vlastimil Brodsky as Fanda, an old man who refuses to grow up. Despite pleas from his exasperated wife Emilie and son who want him to make some serious decisions about the future, he ignores their nagging and spends his days seeking amusement and adventure. Aided by his pal and former theatre colleague, Fanda keeps his acting skills sharpened by pretending to be a host of fascinating characters. One day he is a retired opera star in the market for an opulent country estate, next a ticket inspector on the subway. Although he bickers constantly with his wife, their bond is palpable - deep down Emilie knows that at least it's never boring. But when Fanda fakes his own death, Emilie decides she's had enough and files for divorce. The couple soon realizes however, that instead of old age being a time to take on worries, perhaps it is the time to shed them and live each day to the fullest. Directed by Vladimir Michalek. Czech with English subtitles.
Baikal: Blue Eye of Siberia, (prior to) 1991 107 min - VHS (2 videotapes)
Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and contains one-fifth of the world's fresh water. It is home to 2,600 species, many of them unique. And it is in danger. This program looks at the environmental damage done to Baikal and at what must be done to save it. It also provides an in-depth look at the politics of the campaign under way to save this lake that many consider the soul of the region, a campaign so large that it has drawn attention and support from around the world. Two tape set examining the historical and ecological importance of Lake Baikal to the Russians.
Ballad of a Soldier, 1960 89 min – VHS
The hero of this tragic “ballad” is an innocent beardless soldier-boy who earns a ten-day leave to go home to his mother by performing a desperate act of bravery at the front. One the way home, he has small adventures – “small” when compared to the background of national crises and massive hardships that are made evident throughout the film. A protest to the damage done to people’s lives by war. Directed by Grigori Chukhrai. Black and white. Russian with English subtitles.
(The) Baltic States, 1992 60 min - VHS
(One World Series) Narrated by Charles Osgood of CBS News with commentary by former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski. Camera crews documented two years of struggle after the Baltic people declared their freedom in a "singing revolution" that was largely peaceful. This report traces the dark cloud that lingered in the fall of 1994 after the Russian troop withdrawal ended a half-century of occupation - of spies, informers, deportations and fear. Reformers and romantics who first filled offices of government had to be turned out in favor of those with experience, as voters in these nations felt their way back to self-determination.
Baltic States: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, 1992 54 min - VHS
(Video Visits) A video tour with narration and music through the Baltic States. Visit Vilnius, the multi-ethnic heart of Lithuania. See the historic Gates of Dawn, the Gediminas Tower, the 14th century restored Trakai Castle. Walk through the revered Hill of Crosses and experience country life in Rumsiskes. Roam the sandy beaches of the Neringa Peninsula. Explore Riga with its ancient castle, medieval buildings and Doma Baznica Cathedral in Latvia. In Estonia witness the Midsummer's Eve Torch Ceremony procession.
Battle for the Soul of Russia, 1992 51 min - VHS
With the collapse of the former Soviet Union a new era of religious freedom emerges. A resurgence of faith is sweeping across the formerly atheistic state. Some 350 Western missionary groups are now sending missionaries and money to reach new followers. In this documentary shot in Russia, reporter Bill Turpie introduces us to the murderous history of the religious persecutions by the KGB, the clergy's active role in opposing the abortive coup attempt, the new role of the churches in public education.
Battleship Potemkin, 1925 (Fiction - Contains strong imagery) 119 min - DVD
Battleship Potemkin, one of the most famous and influential films in the history of cinema and containing one of the best known sequences ever filmed, is a screen gem that shines with technical brilliance and dynamic energy. Acclaimed director Sergei Eisenstein shook the world when he released this celebration of the 1905 uprising against tsarism in Russia. The film begins with sailors on the battleship Potemkin refusing to eat maggot-ridden food and ends with a glimpse of the possibility of change. What ensues is a stunning catalog of events that detail the brutality of the tsarist regime, most notably the now famous massacre on the Odessa Steps, referred to so many time in other films, that is has become a permanent part of cinematic consciousness. Stylistically, Battleship Potemkin serves as a revolutionary film, not only in its subject matter, but also in it unique use of montage, Eisensteins' "kino first" approach to filmmaking, his rhythmic editing, and its highly charged melodrama.
Beirut to Bosnia: Muslims and the West To the Ends of the Earth, 1994 52 min - VHS (Contains strong imagery)
Why have so many Muslims come to hate the West? In this controversial film, Robert Fisk, award-winning Middle East and Balkans correspondent for the London Independent, reports on Muslim unrest as ideology, religion, history, and geography come into conflict. To the Ends of the Earth investigates the desperate situations of Muslims in Egypt and Bosnia, who, though worlds apart, are plagued by a common feeling of betrayal by the West. For members of Egypt's Gama'a al-Islamiya, religious fervor and violence - vehicles to create an Islamic state - are viewed as the only antidotes to poverty and unemployment, while Bosnians fight for the simple right to exist in a Europe that they feel does not want them. Interviews with leaders, fighters, and victims from both regions show the many faces of Cairo and Sarajevo.
Beshkempir: The Adopted Son, 1998 (Fiction Rated PG-13) 81 min - DVD
The first independent feature ever made in Kyrgyzstan, this film follows a boy living out a typical childhood, until he discovers one day that he is adopted. What sounds like a cliche takes on striking resonance here in a mostly pre-industrial society. (black & white/color) Directed by Aktan Abdykalykov. Kyrgyz with English subtitles.
Black Sea: Voyage of Healing, 1998 55 min - VHS
The Black Sea separates Europe from Asia, and is a great trading area. It has a rich history of human cultural exchange, and a unique bio-diversity. For thousands of years, people have lived off its bounty. Pollution from Europe's industries, carried by great rivers like the Danube are killing it. This documentary chronicles a circum-navigation of the sea, visiting the countries of Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey in search of solutions to the problems (ecological, economic, spiritual) of the Black Sea region. Directed by Peter Davis. Danube Blues is a follow up to Black Sea: Voyage of Healing.
Bosnia: Peace Without Honor, 1998 40 min - VHS
(BBC) This program traces the roots of the Bosnian conflict through the 1992-1995 efforts of America's Cyrus Vance and Britain's David Owen to negotiate a lasting peace. Both diplomats expose the role of world powers in brokering, mediating, and at times exacerbating the regional conflict. Owen attributes failures to establish an equitable regional government to American foreign policy - particularly the placement of UN troops in strategic Serbian sites.
Bringing Down a Dictator, 2001 56 min - VHS
In the year 2000, in a war barely noticed outside Yugoslavia, the indicted war criminal Slobodan Milosevic fought to hold power. He controlled a battle-hardened army, a tough police force and most of the news media. But he underestimated his opponents, led by a student movement called Otpor! (Serbian for "resistance"), who attacked the regime with ridicule, rock music, and a willingness to be arrested. Their courage and audacity inspired others to overcome their fear and join the fight. Otpor! students were the shock troops in what became an army of human rights and pro-democracy activists who systematically undermined police and army loyalty to Milosevic and forced him to call early elections. When Milosevic refused to accept his defeat at the polls, the people responded with a general strike. As normal life ground to a halt, Serbs by the hundreds of thousands descended on the capital on October 5th, 2000 to seize the parliament in a dramatic triumph for democracy. Milosevic was arrested and extradited to the Hague to stand trial for crimes against humanity in June 2001.
Brother, [Brat] 1997 (Fiction - not rated) 96 min - DVD
When Chechen veteran, Danila (Sergei Bodrov Jr.), is sent by his mother to live with his brother in St. Petersburg he finds himself in the heart of the city's seedy underbelly. Once there, he meets a girl, discovers new music and gets himself a job... as a mafia hitman. When his brother, who also works as a hitman, gets into trouble, it's up to Danila to look out for him. Employing the cold, calculating efficiency he learnt during his combat training days, he risks his life for his own blood. Soon, however, family betrayal rears its ugly head, and things turn bad. A powerful examination of life in a society hardened by violence and crime, Aleksei Balabanov's Brother is an unnerving look at the consequences of conscription and war upon a generation of young Russians. Russian with English subtitles.
Cabaret Balkan, 1999 (Fiction, Rated R) 102 min - VHS
Set against the backdrop of the Balkan wars, this film delivers comedy with a vengeance in a cinematic tour-de-force that collected 1998 Best Film honors from the European Film Awards and the Venice International Film Festival. How the lives of various Yugoslavian citizens - a cab driver, friends in a gym, a girl on a bus, a performance artist - intersect during one unpredictable night forms the story of this fiercely comic film. Directed by Goran Paskaljevic. Serbian with English subtitles.
Capitalism, Socialism, Communism, 1992 22 min - VHS
In government, no two nations are exactly the same in following any one system, socially, economically or politically. Each modifies its system according to local traditions, history and resources. Therefore, the terms "capitalism," "communism," and "socialism" are general terms and can often be misunderstood. By presenting a historical background and showing how changes have affected nations adapting to different systems, this film introduces and compares the true meanings of these terms, thereby putting much of the current upheaval in socialist/ communist countries into perspective.
Chagall: Portrait of an Artist, 1985 55 min - VHS
This film portrait, made shortly before his death takes the viewer on a journey through time and place, exploring Marc Chagall's life and work, documenting the history of the artist. Chagall began life in a Jewish ghetto in Russia. He later moved to Paris, where he met Matisse, Leger and Dufy. There he began to create the floating surrealist style, which has remained his hallmark, becoming a luminary of French artist by the time of his death. Directed by Kim Evans.
Chapayev, 1997 (Fiction Not Rated) 100 min - VHS
The account of a beloved hero of the Russian Revolution, an illiterate Russian who served in the tsar's army, then after the Revolution formed his own forces to fight alongside the Reds. (black & white) Russian with English subtitles.
Chernobyl: The Taste of Wormwood, 1987 52 min - VHS
Chernobyl has come to mean "disaster" and "cover-up." Actually, ironically, in Russian it means "wormwood." This program, the result of meticulous investigative work by a team of Japanese reporters, provides on-site photography of the blast site and of people and areas affected - some visibly burned, others only statistically at risk. It interviews victims, bystanders, the medical personnel who treated the immediate burn victims, physicists, and politicians. Statisticians have concluded that the Chernobyl accident will cause an additional 20,000 to 200,000 cancer deaths in Western Europe in the next 30 years; using delicate measuring devices, the makers of this program were able to draw a map indicating just where the victims live.
Chernobyl Recovery: A Blueprint for International Co-Operation, 1993 17 min - VHS
A documentary on the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl and the efforts to contain the damage there. The long term health of the region is also explored.
Christians of the East, 1994 3 hours - VHS (2 videotapes, 90 min each)
Yale University's Jaroslav Pelikan returns to when Byzantium was the focal point of a complex civilization and a distinctive Christian tradition (inherited by the Slavic peoples.) As Eastern Christianity emerges from a long suppression, Pelikan recalls a history that the West ignores at great cost. You'll witness how this tradition eventually separated from Western Christianity in the first and greatest schism among Christian believers.
Climbing to the Top of the Caucasus, 1982 48 min - VHS
(Rand-McNally Video Expedition) Journey to the remote reaches of Georgia as an expedition of young adults from America and the Soviet Union join forces to ascend the formidable Mount Elbrus, the 18,481-foot pinnacle of the Caucasus range and highest mountain in Europe. Along the way these climbers overcome cultural and linguistic barriers. They also encounter a traditional wedding in the isolated village of Svanetia. Narrated by Leonard Nimoy.
Closely Watched Trains, 1966 (Fiction - Not Rated) 93 min - DVD
The 1966 Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Film, "Closely Watched Trains" is a charming look at the life a young train conductor during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. He is ineptly led into an erotic encounter with a beautiful girl and fails to perform. But this unlikely hero takes a stand when his village is threatened by the occupying German Army. Directed by Jiri Menzel. Czech with English subtitles.
Collapse of the Aral Sea Ecosystem, 2000 54 min - DVD
The Aral Sea used to be one of the world's largest and most productive inland bodies of water until a Soviet plan to turn Central Asia into the greatest cotton-producer on Earth destroyed it. Now mostly a sterile lake amidst a desert poisoned by decades of fertilizer and pesticide runoff, the Aral Sea, itself ruined, is ruining the lives of all who still live near it. This program details the irreversible damage to the ecosystem and the resulting health problems being faced by the remaining inhabitants of the region. "The Aral Sea and the tragic plight of its people is not a freak, isolated event, but a crisis that is just slightly ahead of its time," says host David Suzuki.
Cold War, 1998 18+ hours - 8 videotapes - VHS (3 episodes per videotape, 46 min/episode)
CNN's epic eight-volume examination of the key events, personalities, and consequences of the cold war. Includes rare footage of historical events and interviews with people who helped shape history. Directed by Jeremy Isaacs, (black & white/color):
Communism: The Promise and the Reality, 1998 360 min - VHS (6 videotapes, 60 min each)
Communism: The Promise and the Reality, 1998 360 min - VHS (6 videotapes, 60 min each) In the People's Century series "Communism: The Promise and the Reality", ordinary people describe how and why they were mesmerized by the promises of Communist regimes. With those regimes collapsing around the world, they are now able to speak openly and with perspective. These witnesses participated in the most dramatic moments in the history of Communism--from the Bolshevik assault on the Winter Palace to the smashing of the Berlin Wall. They also beheld the response to revolution--the crushing power of American and Soviet forces, the international arms build-up, the threat of nuclear weapons. Their voices speak of Communism's horrors, but they remind us that there was hope--for education in Ukraine, land ownership in Cuba, religious freedom in Afghanistan. Narrated by John Forsythe and Alfre Woodard. (Boxed Set - 6 Volumes).
Contemporary Estonian Animation, 1992-1999 (Animation - not Rated) 293 min - VHS (4 videotapes, ranging in length)
A collection of vital works by animation artists Priit Parn, Mati Kutt and the Eesti Joonisfilm studio.
Crisis in Kosovo, 1999 15 min - VHS
Providing helpful historical background, this video briefly explains how Yugoslavia-once stable under Tito-fractured into the states of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and the dominant Serbia. Students are led to research and discuss such questions as: Was NATO right to bomb Serbia, or did bombing do more harm than good? What will be the long-term effects of NATO’s action? Why did the United States stand aside when ethnic killings occurred in places like Rwanda and East Timor? Is the KLA equally guilty of atrocities? Is it reasonable to compare Milosevic with Hitler? Includes an 11"h x 17"w poster and a 12-page guide with reproducible worksheets. Grades 6-12. Color.
(The) Cuckoo, 2002 (Fiction - Rated PG-13) 103 min - DVD
September 1944, in a land torn apart by war, a Finnish sniper is labeled a coward by his compatriots; as punishment, he is nailed to a rock and left to his own devices. Not long after, a disgraced Russian Captain, enroute to his court martial, is injured in an accident. Both men are about to find out hey have one thing in common. Wounded and emotionally tortured, they are taken in by Anni, a young resourceful war widow, who offers shelter to one while nursing the other back to health. None of them understand the others' languages, but it doesn't seem to matter. Isolated, the three unlikely roommates - a Finn, A Russian and a Lapp - overcome both with comic and tragic misunderstandings to form a passion ate three-way relationship. Because after a day of hard work on Anni's farm, who needs words? Directed by Aleander Rogozhkin. Russian, Finnish, Lapp with English subtitles.
(The) Czar's Faberge Eggs, 1998 50 min – DVD
They are at once exquisite works of art and fascinating relics of a vanished era. They are among the most valuable and prized treasures on earth, with one recently fetching a record $5.5 million at auction. The jeweled Easter eggs created by Peter Carl Faberge for the Russian Czar Nicholas II represent the zenith of the jewelers' art. They helped secure Faberge a reputation that lasts to this day, and embody an age of opulence that came to a sudden, horrific end. The Czar's Faberge Eggs goes behind the scenes at the Forbes Collection the world's largest and the Hillwood Museum in Washington D.C. for an up-close look at many of these magnificent creations. Curators and experts reveal the amazing features that make each one a masterpiece, while historians show how the history of the waning years of Russian royalty can be traced by the changing themes of the unique creations. From the court of the czars to today, here is the complete story of some of the most fascinating and beautiful artworks ever created.
Danube, (prior to) 1990 50 min - VHS
A documentary on the great river and its impact on the history of central Europe. This program is part of a series called "Great Rivers of the World".
Danube Blues, 2001 50 min - VHS
A follow up to "Black Sea Voyage Of Healing," this documentary looks at the current ecological, political, and economic problems of the region, and places them in the perspective of the turmoil of Danubia during the last century. A chronicle of a Danube voyage (2,500 km) from Germany to the Black Sea. Shot just after NATO's war against Serbia. Directed by Peter Davis.
Daughters of Afghanistan, 2004 58 min - DVD
After the Taliban fell, Afghan women felt a quick rush of freedom before Islamic fundamentalists again denied them rights as the world stood by. In this documentary, Canadian journalist Sally Armstrong tells the stories of five women and their struggles to survive hardship and repression. Centered on Dr. Sima Samar-a champion who defied the Taliban and served briefly in the transitional government-the program also profiles a school principal, a housewife, a widow, and a girl whose childhood was lost to war. An outstanding resource for women's studies or global education. DVD features: Sally Armstrong commentary track and interviews. Grades 9 and up.
Death of Yugoslavia: 20th Century with Mike Wallace, 1997 50 min - VHS
This program provides an introduction to the history of the former Yugoslavia, from WWII through the end of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. It draws heavily on news footage, including original commentary.
Decalogue, 1999 (Fiction) 10 hours - DVD (10 episodes, 60 min each)
Krzysztof Kieslowski's masterpiece explores the timeless moral issues of human existence through ten contemporary tales, each based on one of the Ten Commandments. Originally produced for Polish television, the series of separate but intertwining films transcended the boundaries of film and TV, winning honors as it played around the world. All ten films in a two-disc set. Polish with English subtitles.
Donahue in Moscow: A Day in the Life of a Soviet Family, 1988 27 min - VHS
Phil Donahue interviews Soviet citizens about family life - health care, daily habits, family planning, alcoholism, children, interspersed with short clips of life in Moscow.
Donahue in Moscow: Soviet Teens, 1988 30 min - VHS
Phil Donahue interviews Soviet teens about religion, daily life, dating, school and current events in a talk show setting. This was produced to humanize Soviet citizens for an American audience.
Dr. Zhivago, 1965 (Fiction, PG-13) 197 min - VHS (2 videotapes, boxed set)
The classic film based on Boris Pasternak's novel of love and war in Revolutionary Russia. It's the story of a talented poet and a dedicated surgeon whose war-disrupted life alters the lives of many especially those closest to him. Directed by David Lean. Won many academy awards.
Early Russian Cinema, 1908-1919 (Fiction Not Rated) 12 hours - VHS (10 videotapes, 45 to 104 min each)
This ten-part video anthology considers the early thematic, cultural, political, and artistic developments of Russian cinema. The films span the time from the first Russian dramatic production, "Stenka Razin" (1908), and even earlier documentaries such as "A Fish Factory in Astrakhan" (1908), to "The Funeral of Vera Kholodnaia" (1919), which records the vast public response to the early death of Russia's greatest star.
Eastern Europe, 1991 3 hours - VHS (3 videotapes, 60 min each)
Using rare archival footage, this 3-part series provides an in-depth look at the history of Eastern Europe. The programs track events from 1900 to the fall of Communism.
Eastern Europe: Breaking with the Past, 1990 10 hours - VHS (10 videotapes, 53 min each)
(Smithsonian Video) This collection investigates the current issues facing the emerging democracies of eastern Europe.
Eisenstein and Stalin: When Art and Politics Clash, 1999 60 min - DVD
Drawing on sixty volumes of diaries and other recently revealed archival materials, this program presents the struggle between Joseph Stalin and Sergei Eisenstein, who fought for freedom of expression in a climate of exiles and executions. Rare clips of the preeminent Russian director's controversial films ¬including the deleted Trotsky scene in October, the original ending of The General Line, and recovered footage from the banned Bezhin Meadow ¬and interviews with the director of the Eisenstein Museum, friends, associates, and former students underscore the coercive power of Stalin's authoritarian regime.
Elie Wiesel Goes Home, 2002 108 min – DVD
This film follows the Nobel laureate as he travels back to his homeland, in what was part of Hungary, and then to Auschwitz and Birkenau. It is narrated by William Hurt who reads from Mr. Wiesel’s critically acclaimed works. Following the feature are interviews with Jewish scholars Rabbi Marvin Hier, Founder and Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and Professor Bernard Goldberg, Director of the American Jewish Cultural Studies Program at West Los Angeles College. Note: some images of atrocities.
Empire of Dreams: The Bolshoi Ballet, 1996 58 min - VHS
This program relies on performance, archival footage, and behind-the-scenes film to provide an intimate portrait of the illustrious Bolshoi. We see how its stars have been indulged by Russian society. Film footage captures its new artistic director, Vladimir Vasilye, as he guides the group through various productions. Prima ballerinas Maya Plisetskaya, newcomer Nina Ananiaschvili, and others are shown working at the barre, in rehearsal, on tour, and performing excerpts from famous ballets. This is a probing look at a world-renowned cultural treasure.
Europe: Balkan Region, 1994 20 min - VHS
Though historically the "tinderbox of Europe," this strife-torn region also contains peaceful rural villages, resort towns, and thriving modern cities. From the Golden Sands beaches on the Black Sea to the unsurpassed beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, this least developed part of Europe encompasses the countries of Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, and part of Turkey. Gives some history, geographical features, industries, and attractions of the area.
Europe: Northern Europe, 1994 21 min -VHS
Compares Europe's northern region: Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), the Baltic Republics (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), Iceland, and Finland. Discusses its diverse geography, cultures, industries, climates, and natural resources. The people live harmoniously with the challenges of their harsh environment. This region's long democratic traditions and high standard of living set an example for the rest of Europe.
European Union Moves East, 1999 25 min -VHS
Part of Expanding Europe-Round Five of the EU Buildout. Endowed with a strategic geographic position and a vibrant economy, Germany is playing a key role in the EU's expansion into Eastern and Central Europe. How is it facilitating the efforts of its neighbors in their bids for statehood? And who is assisting the countries beyond Germany's reach? Featuring an interview with the European Commission's Guenter Verheugen, this program surveys the issues facing Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Cyprus, including their need for economic revitalization, industrial innovation and infrastructure improvements. The EU's relationship with Russia and the Balkans is considered as well.
Face of Russia, 1998 3 hours - VHS (3 videotapes, 60 min each)
Three tape set highlighting the centuries-old art and culture of Russia, encompassing Russia's architecture, paintings, music, literature, and cinema. Hosted by James Billington, one of America's foremost historians of Russia.
Generous Manas, 1995 30 min - VHS
The epos, Manas, contains the foundations of the cultural, historical, social and religious traditions of the semi-nomadic Kyrgyz peoples of Central Asia. 1995 was the 1000th anniversary of the unprecedented folk epic Manas. With 500,000 poetical lines it is the greatest epic work in the world. For centuries Manas has been passed from generation to generation by skilled "manaschi." This video tells the story of the Kyrgyz, a semi-nomadic people who love horses, through their ancient hero Manas. It was filmed in the mountainous land of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia by, the well know Kyrgyz company, Epos.
Genghis Khan: Terror and Conquest, 1996 50 min -VHS
(A & E Network) From the plains of Mongolia to the pages of history, this is the story of Genghis Khan. His name is equated with barbarism and terror, but the ancient Mongol warlord was as effective a ruler as he was a conqueror. At the height of his power, his empire extended from the Pacific Ocean to the Persian Gulf. But while none question his military brilliance, his abilities as a statesman and ruler are often overlooked. Genghis Khan was one of the most effective rulers in human history. He fashioned his nomadic armies into the greatest fighting force the world had ever seen, and extended his empire to the furthest corners of Asia and into Europe in a series of brilliant and devastating campaigns. This program travels to Asia on the trail of the great conqueror and traces his exploits through extensive location footage, expert testimony and period art and artifacts. Discover how his empire was so well controlled that a traveler could go from one end of it to the other in safety, and relive the epic battles that secured his place among the greatest conquerors in history.
Genocide: The Horror Continues, 2002 (Viewer discretion is advised) 57 min - VHS
(Genocide Factor Series) The late 20th century produced a sinister euphemism: "ethnic cleansing." Introduced by actor John Voight, with the aid of an array of scholars, experts, eyewitnesses, and survivors from around the world, Genocide: The Horror Continues looks at the most recent examples in Iraq, Iran, and Turkey; Burundi and Rwanda; the former Yugoslavia; Indonesia and East Timor; and Chechnya. The role and efforts of the United Nations are discussed as well as what the future holds in trying to prevent genocide. Among many scholars, experts, and survivors interviewed are Jamsheed Marker, former U.S. Ambassador and negotiator to East Timor; Gregory H. Stanton, director of Genocide Watch; and Joseph Mutaboba, Rwandan Ambassador to the UN.
Gorbachev, Mikhail, 1996 50 min - VHS
(Biography) In this candid interview, Gorbachev tells of his long rise to power and reflects on the sweeping changes his reforms brought to his nation. His drastic reforms led to the end of his nation as the world knew it. But ultimately, he was undone by his own success. One of the most compelling figures of the 20th century, Gorbachev is the son of a mechanic from the North Caucasus, whose vision to change his nation was shaped by his childhood experiences under Stalin's rule. Gorbachev recounts how he rose through the party ranks without betraying his radical visions for the future. Once in power, however, the changes were swift and sweeping. Extensive footage chronicles the turbulent years of his rule, from the first stirrings of Glasnost to the unsuccessful coup attempt that marked the last gasp of the old, hard-line leadership. And Soviet historians and political experts detail his world-changing legacy.
Gypsies and the Freedom to Hate, 2001 23 min - VHS
Ironically, the Gypsies or Roma of eastern Europe, a people historically persecuted, were protected under the communist system; the disintegration of that system has opened the floodgates of a repressed hatred. In this program, ABC News correspondent Chris Bury looks at an age-old prejudice that has resurfaced in such countries as Hungary and the Czech Republic. Inheriting a legacy of discrimination and even slavery, the Roma, as this profile shows, are an ethnic group with the lowest education levels and highest welfare rates in Europe.
Hapsburgs: Between Empire and Nation, 1993 53 min - VHS
The history of the Hapsburg dynasty, which spanned more than 600 years, is synonymous with the history of Europe from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Using on-site footage, documents, and in-depth historical analysis, this segment re-creates the historical period to provide an overview of the events and family that forged modern Europe. Between Empire and Nation examines the liberal forces at work in the 19th century, the conservative policies of the Hapsburg rulers, and the inevitable results of this conflict. It shows how demands for greater freedom, combined with Metternich's resignation, eventually resulted in greater oppression. In examining the revolution of 1848, the program shows the resulting policy of security over liberty and preservation rather than renewal. The nation that emerged from this period remained the keystone of an empire - until the assassination in 1914 of the last Hapsburg heir triggered a world war.
Herders of Mongun-Taiga: The Tuvans of Mongolia, 1989 45 min - VHS
(Disappearing World Series) Provides a rare glimpse at the lives of the Tuvans, nomadic herders who live on the Russian-Mongolian border. Mongun-Taiga "sacred wilderness" - is one of the bleakest areas in Tuva. The people of Mongun-Taiga are descendents of aboriginal Siberian forest people, living for the most part on the pastures in yurts - moveable felt tents - and subsisting through the nomadic herding of yaks, sheep, horses and goats. Wolves and snow leopards are a constant threat to their flocks, arable farming is impossible as even the lowest village is at some 6,000 feet above sea level. This program captures the life style of the people of this inhospitable landscape, who number among their customs a storytelling tradition which requires a whole day to tell just one story and the remarkable musical phenomenon of "throat singing." Directed by John Sheppard.
Hermitage, 1994 159 min - VHS (3 videotapes, 53 min each)
Three volume set directed by John Beahrend explores the history and collections of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Historia Polski W Malarstwie: Poland's History In Painting, 1988 109 min - VHS
Poland's history in painting from prehistoric times to 1945. Major historical events in artistic visions of top Polish painters: Jan Matejko, Wojciech Kossak, Jacek Malczewski, Piotr Michalowski, Artur Grottger, Jozef Brandt and others. Directed by Bozena Walter. Polish (no subtitles).
Hungarian Uprising: 1956, (prior to) 1990 12 min - VHS
This program shows the steely face of Communism as the Soviets sent troops to Hungary to suppress popular discontent with the government. The program shows what happened in the aftermath of Prime Minister Imre Nagy's announcement that Hungary was withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact: Soviet troops entered Budapest and other centers and simply crushed the revolt. Thousands of Hungarians died and 150,000 fled the country. The program shows the uprising and its aftermath: Hungary's resumption of its place in the Eastern Bloc (which included joining Soviet troops in putting down the Czech attempts at liberalization in 1968); the exile of Cardinal Jozsef Mindszenty in the U.S. Embassy; and the gradual economic reforms that made Hungary the most Western part of the Eastern Bloc.
Hungary: Land of Hospitality, 1990 55 min - VHS
(Video Visits) A video tour with narration and music through Hungary. Land of baroque palaces and cobblestone streets echoing with gypsy rhapsodies. Journey to Budapest, along the Danube River where old world charm mixes with modern vitality. In the Castle Hill district, meander along Fisherman's Bastion, gaze at the neo-Gothic Matthias Church, tour the Royal Palace. Discover the medieval city of Pecs and tour Zsolnay's porcelain factory. Ride horseback with the csikos on the prairies of the Great Plain. In Eger, sample Tokay, the "wine of kings."
I Was Stalin's Bodyguard, 1990 73 min - VHS
A controversial film that created a storm in Russia by taking the cloak off a violent, repressive era of Soviet history. Filmmaker Semyon Aranovich found the last surviving personal bodyguard of Josef Stalin, who began to work for him in the 1930s. I Was Stalin's Bodyguard weaves together unprecedented, first-hand testimony with rare footage, including Stalin's home movies. What emerges is a singular portrait of a violent and complex era during which Stalin consolidated his power through brutal repression, yet led the Soviet Union to victory in World War II.
Icebreaker: Family Life in the Soviet Union, 1989 6 hours - VHS (6 videotapes, 52 min each)
Classroom version (includes viewing guide) - each episode is divided into 2 parts of about 24 minutes each. The series travels across the entire breadth of the vast Soviet Union, from ocean coast to the brutal hinterland of the arctic circle, through three seasons, eleven time zones, and a sixth of the planet's land mass, to create the broadest, most penetrating, most intimate, and the most truly human view of the Soviet people ever filmed. This series puts politics aside and looks at the daily lives of the Soviet people. Six Soviet families, different races and cultures, chosen across the vast breadth of the USSR, from rich to poor, from city to mountain, forest to farmland, ocean coast to the arctic circle. (For viewing guide see REECAS Secretary.)
Immortal Fortress: A Look Inside Chechnya's Warrior Culture, 1999 52 min - VHS
This film explores Chechnya's war-driven culture, while searching for its most prolific modern warrior, Shamil Basayev. To Russia and the West, Basayev is a terrorist, but to many in Chechnya, a hero. The surprise attack on the Russian city Budyonnovsk in 1995 and the invasion of Dagestan in 1999 have given Basayev international attention and brought Russia back to the battlefield. Directed by Dodge Billingsley. English & Russian with English subtitles.
Inside the Soviet Union: Before Gorbachev, 1977 50 min - VHS
Made in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution, the film documents the history of the Soviet Union for those 60 years, emphasizing progress and the success of the communist system. Using some extraordinary and extraordinarily old footage (some from 1916 of the Czar), this film chronicles "The Road to Happiness" provided by Lenin and his theories. A crash-course in 20th century Russian history, from a very Soviet point of view. (black & white / color).
Islamic Resurgence and Holy War: The Former Soviet Union and Indonesia, 1999 52 min - VHS
Over the last decade, Islam has swiftly grown in popularity-so much so that today one in every five people on Earth is a follower of Muhammad. But with this resurgence has come an increase in friction between Muslims and non-Muslims. Segment one of this program focuses on four divinity school students from Tatarstan who dropped out to join the jihad in Chechnya, while segment two tracks the efforts of President Abdurrahman Wahid to make peace between rioting Muslims and Christians on the Indonesian island of Ambon. This video is part of the series "Islam Rising".
Ivan the Terrible, 1999 50 min - VHS
His name conjures images of senseless brutality, yet in Russia, Ivan the Terrible is considered by many a national hero, even a man of God. Filmed on location, this documentary presents a thorough biography of Russia's despot of contradictions. Also highlighted is how Stalin admired Ivan and saw in him a role model and useful symbol of the state. The program offers readings of Ivan's diary and letters, interviews with leading scholars, and extensive footage from Sergei Eisenstein's classic film - personally commissioned by Stalin - about Russia's first Czar. The Oprichniki, the dreaded brotherhood sworn to protecting Ivan, are seen as a precursor to Stalin's secret police.
Jacob the Liar, 1974 (Fiction - Not Rated) 96 min - DVD
Trapped in a Polish ghetto with thousands of other Jews, Jacob overhears a radio report about a nearby Russian victory. Eventually, he decides to pass on the news of hope to his fellow prisoners. However, in order to be believed, he feigns access to a radio and becomes a bulwark against despair, and a reluctant but tragic hero. Remade in 1999 with Robin Williams. Directed by Frank Beyer. German with English subtitles.
Jazzman, 1984 80 min -VHS
In the 1920's a young musician is expelled from a conservatory for playing the decadent Western form of music known as ragtime. He puts together a jazz group, recruiting two street musicians and a former saxophonist in the Czar’s marching band. The quartet faces many comic situations before recognition including a performance at a notorious gangster’s birthday party and the intrepid pursuit of “the world’s greatest jazz singers.” Directed by Karen Shakhnazarov. Russian with English subtitles.
Journey of Butterfly, 1995 62 min - VHS
This documentary weaves together the music, art, poetry, and history of children imprisoned by the Nazis in the ghetto at Terezin in Czechoslovakia from 1941 to 1945. Charles Davidson has set the poetry written by the children during that time to music in the concert "I Never Saw Another Butterfly." 50 years later The American Boychoir traveled to Czechoslovakia to perform the concert. The few children who survived tell their stories in the film. Directed by Robert Frye.
Journey to the Sacred Sea, 1990 60 min - VHS
(NOVA) A documentary on Lake Baikal. Twenty-five million years ago, seismic events in Siberia created the world's largest and oldest freshwater lake -- Baikal. Fed by over 300 mountain streams and rivers, the 400-mile Lake Baikal holds more water than all five of the Great Lakes together. It is also home to more than 2,500 species of plants and animals, half of which cannot be found anywhere else on the Earth. To the indigenous people of Siberia, Baikal was known as the Sacred Sea, immortalized in legend, folklore, and poetry. Today, people continue to utilize the lake's vast resources. Yet human activity often threatens the very resources people depend on, and some worry that human encroachment and industrial pollution could make Baikal's ecological future uncertain. NOVA takes a close look at this ecological system and explores the risks it faces.
Kalinka, 1995 15 min - VHS
A performance of the Russian folk song as interpreted by students from Highland Park Elementary School.
Kolyma, 1997 2 hours 15 min - VHS (3 videotapes, 45 min each)
In Communist Russia, power was obtained and maintained through fear and violence. Many Russians, who were considered enemies of the Communist government, were sent to concentration camps in Siberia to mine for gold and other valuable minerals. Through starvation, disease, random executions, subfreezing temperatures, over 2 million Russian citizens died. "Kolyma" was the worst of these camps. This documentary is based on eye witness testimony, archive records, surviving documentary footage, and our own filming of the remains of the "Kolyma" concentration camp. Director's cut. Winner of both the Berlin and Amsterdam Documentary Film Festivals.
Kosovo: Of Blood and History, 1999 41 min - VHS
To fully understand the recent bloodshed in Kosovo, one must go back 600 years and trace the causes of the undying hatreds that permeate Serbia and the surrounding region. Using eyewitness accounts, maps, and footage both of historic events and of Serbian life, this program examines the ethnic nationalism and religious extremism that have resulted in the long-standing hatred between Serbs and Kosovar Albanians-a hatred that continued to destabilize the Balkans throughout (and because of) the Milosevic regime.
Kovno Ghetto: A Buried History, 1996 100 min - VHS
Before WWII, 35,000 Jews lived in Kovno, Lithuania; few escaped the Holocaust. The people of Kovno risked their lives to record their fate in thousands of photographs and documents. Many of these artifacts survived the war, and they form the most complete record of any Jewish community's experience during the Holocaust. This program pieces together the story of the Jews of Kovno from the first stirrings of war to the annihilation of the ghetto just days before the city's liberation. 18 survivors, including photographer Zvi Kadushin, whose images are the heart of Kovno's legacy, tell their stories.
Landmarks of Faith: Russian Orthodox Alaska, 1999 46 min - VHS
In the early 19th century, two gold crosses atop St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral marked the low skyline of Sitka, in the old Russian colony we now know as Alaska. The town was built near a Tlingit village amidst the immense wilderness where fur traders reaped fortunes from the pelts of seals and sea otters. Into this world stepped Father Ivan Veniaminov, a gentle giant over six feet tall, whose energy and intelligence bridged the diverse cultures. It is also the world of Father Herman, the ascetic monk who commanded a tidal wave to be calm, and spoke with angels.
Lenin and His Legacy, 1990 30 min - VHS
This program traces the life and legacy of Lenin, the philosophical and political founding father of the Soviet Union, the starring actor as well as the writer and director of much of the drama from the earliest days of the Russian revolutionary movement. When the Bolsheviks came to power in 1917, Lenin became the President of the Council of People's Commissars and remained the active head of the Soviet government until his death in 1924. Using documentary footage dating back to 1896 (when Tsar Nicholas was crowned), the program shows pre-revolutionary Russia, the Revolution, and the events after Lenin's death: the treason trials of the 1930s, World War II, the death of Stalin and many of his successors, Gorbachev's call for reforms, the successes and failures in Soviet ventures, and the shifts in domestic and foreign policy - all in the name of Lenin. (black & white / color).
Lenin: Voice of Revolution, 1997 50 min - VHS
He combined lofty idealism with deadly ruthlessness. He forged an empire that changed the face of the world. Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was one of the most influential people of the 20th century. His vision for communism shaped the Soviet Union into a world power, and inspired political unrest in countless other countries. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, newly unsealed documents help tell the truth about Lenin. This program profiles the fanatical philosopher who was catapulted to power by an incredible combination of passion, luck and unlikely alliances. Valentin Berezhkov, an interpreter for Stalin, reveals "Uncle Joe's" feelings for his predecessor, while Soviet historians examine his rise and rule. Excerpts from Lenin's writings expose his fixation on violence. Rare footage shows the Bolshevik leader at the height of his power, before strokes weakened and eventually killed him at the age of 53. From his childhood experiences to the debate over what should be done with his body, this is a remarkable portrait of one of the 20th century's towering figures.
Lost Empires of Asia and Russia, 2004 52 min - VHS
"Lost City of the Shang" (28 minute documentary) brings China’s first dynasty to life via dramatizations and scrutiny of oracle bones and other artifacts from Anyang. Shorter segments cover Asoka and the beginnings of Buddhism in India, Russia’s 1905 uprising against Czar Nicholas II, and the Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917. Program features include questions before viewing, student-friendly narration, same-age learners responding to online questions (sample: What can people do when the government ignores them?), and links to books and Websites. Ideal for reinforcing textbook lessons, initiating units, or motivating research.
Making of Russia: 1480-1860, 1983 26 min - VHS
Examines the history of Russia from the establishment of its first imperial dynasty to the 19th century. From the Viking expansion, the first Russian dynasty - the Ruriks was created. It then covers the rise of Muscovy and the later conquests into Siberia. In the 17th century, under Peter the Great St. Petersburg was built. Under Catherine the Great and her successors, Russia developed into an empire. Peasant unrest then led to the disintegration of the Russian Tsarist system.
Mark of Cain, 2000 73 min - VHS
The Mark of Cain, by Alix Lambert, explores the dying art of Russian prison tattoos to offer audiences an understanding of conflict and transition in contemporary Russia. Through intimate interviews that enable the prisoners to talk about their life experiences, body art, and living conditions, a powerful story emerges of tension between prisoners of different generations and different social-economic systems. The Mark of Cain documents for the first time the disappearing artistic practice of Russian prison tattoos; further, the project investigates the nature of change in Russia by examining what is happening in the country's prisons.
Messengers from Moscow, 1995 4 hours - VHS (4 videotapes, 60 min each)
Five years after the collapse of the Soviet empire, formerly top-secret information is coming to light. Political leaders, military personnel and spies who built and ran the country speak candidly about what the Soviet Union really wanted during the 40 year long Cold War. Written and directed by Daniel Wolf.
Milosz, Czeslaw, 1989 60 min - VHS
Czeslaw Milosz, born in Lithuania in 1911 to a Polish-speaking family, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1980. Mr. Milosz is one of the most important poets of the twentieth century. He reads from "The collected Poems", "The Separate Notebooks", and "Unattainable Earth". The reading took place on September 12, 1988, in Los Angeles. Mr. Milosz was interviewed by poet Lewis MacAdams.
Mongol Empire, 1989 30 min - DVD
(Timeline series) In a mock news report journalists report on events occurring during the time of the Mongol Empire and its effects on Europe and the Near East and stage interviews with historical and common persons living at the time.
Mongols: Storm from the East, (prior to) 1994 3 hours 20 min - VHS (4 videotapes, 50 min each)
This series covers the life and accomplishments of Genghis Khan and examines the art, culture, science and technology of Mongol civilization. Genghis Khan left not only a highly trained army, but also the beginning of an imperial administrative framework, a system of taxation, a communications network-all of which were built upon and expanded by his successors. The series was filmed on location in Mongolia and also features battle re-enactments shot at historical locations throughout Europe and Asia. 4 part series.