In an increasingly polarized world and in which preconceived ideas and prejudices about others prevail over a true analysis of reality, the presence in La Cabina of the tape The patriot (The patriot), It is a double reason for celebration. First because, with this movie, we approach a country, contemporary Russia, about which, apart from the criticism and broad brush comments to which we are accustomed, a wall of secrecy and almost arcane mystery has been raised for the viewer and the Western citizen. Open even a small gap in that wall of information to see first-hand what is happening in Russian politics, makes this work one of the most suggestive proposals on the program of this edition of the contest. And then, by Katja Fedulova, director of this piece, dares to take as the object of its work a party that is at the opposite end of its political and ideological postulates. But it is that, to find out what the opponent “really” says, first you have to know it. The patriot approaches, So, a la figura de Vasily Vlasov, the youngest politician to sit in the Duma (Parliament) of the government of the once powerful political center of the old Soviet order. Sponsored by the conflictive figure of his mentor, the leader of the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LPDR), Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Vlasov explains before Fedulova's camera the ideology of a formation that closely resembles many of the far-right parties that have emerged in the rest of Western Europe today.. The speech, although with its own peculiarities, It is very recognizable to us.
How do you approach this story?? Why are you interested in this character??
I search on the Internet for the youngest Russian politicians and find two girls and three boys, and among them was Vasily Vlasov, I thought he was a very interesting character because he had like two faces.. On the one hand, He was a very cultured politician and spoke very well., and on the other hand he was very nationalistic and that seemed interesting to me., address that political terrain.
What is your intention when approaching this character?? Did you intend to make a complaint about this type of matches or were you simply interested in doing some other type of analysis??
Well, I approached because it was one of the three most important parties in Russia.. First is United Russia, Putin's party, there are the communists, and then the LDPR whose leader is Zhirinovski, who is a politician who seems very interesting to me and because this Vlasov was in it.
In the documentary the LDPR is shown as an ultra-nationalist party. But taking into account that a man like Putin governs Russia, How does a party that is to the right of him present himself?? Is it possible to be more nationalist than Putin?
In Russia all parties are more or less nationalists. Some are more nationalistic and others less, but in your program everyone has some touch, as, For example, the Democratic Party that is also against Putin or so it tries to be. After the fall of communism, many parties try to expose in their programs their opposition to people who come from the countries of the former USSR. They are people who come to Russia to work, but those who are accused of doing it for a lower salary and that is not well regarded by the Russians. and about that, each party tries in its own way to include something against them in its program. thing of which, of course, I don't agree.
One of the most interesting things that appear in your documentary is the apparent interest of young people in parties like the LDPR. What do you think is due?
Yeah, Young people approach them because it is a quick way to make a career and money. Formerly, after perestroika, people were looking to study, then work or do business and it was later when they began their political career. But now they go directly to the games because, since the age of twelve or thirteen, They can now begin to collaborate in a youth organization linked to these parties. Vlasov started at the age of thirteen in the LDPR. I had been watching other games before., but he liked the attitude of his leader Zhirinovsky.
As a result of this relationship with youth, It's curious how, The Internet being a very modern tool whose use, in principle, would be aimed at parties with a more progressive vision of politics, It seems that they are the conservative parties, at least in Europe, and in Russia because of what is shown in your documentary, those who are using them better. What do you think is the reason?
Yeah, It is logical because now young people no longer watch television, and they are all on the internet, so the parties try to be there, to reach young people. Because young people are the future, but at the same time they are more manageable. But not, I believe that the internet is used equally by right-wing and left-wing parties.. The thing is that I think that the parties that are not right-wing in Russia do not have as much organization and do not have as much money to hire the best hackers to break the system. This probably started with Putin. And since they are larger organizations, They have more possibilities and more money and, therefore, more power of influence.
One of the most interesting things that seems common in this type of matches is the use of language. They use very popular language, very close to the voter and, above all, They pretend that they do not hide anything of what they think from other parties. in your movie, Vlasov boasts to talk to voters without using anyone to write the speeches, like other leaders do. where is the trap?
Russia is a very big country and in very big cities, like Moscow and Saint Petersburg and, probably, in two or three more, It is more difficult to deceive people because they have a higher level of education and are more interested in politics.. But in the rest of the country, where the lowest social classes are found and there is a lack of education and the level of education is lower, There people seek to find simple answers to their questions. The questions are also simple, as, who is guilty? And now the culprit is Western Europe, West, who have imposed sanctions, and they are encouraged to endure under the promise that everything will get better. Or when asked why we live so badly, simple answers are also sought. Look what Vlasov is saying, who is also criticizing the west with the idea that gays are in Europe and they have money and they get a lot of help, or immigrants, etc. For them, Europe is a neighbor they can blame. In small towns they think that Putin is not to blame for what happens. What, if there is corruption, It's not Putin's fault, that he doesn't know, It's a politician's thing.. They are always looking for someone who is guilty, but they never start from themselves.
Vlasov is a character who hides nothing, You even go so far as to introduce him to his partner in his domestic environment. How did you become intimate with him so that he would allow you access to that family environment?, to your house?
That question is easy to answer because he himself, how young he is, want to promote yourself. This film was commissioned by three countries, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and then for him it was an opportunity to promote himself in these countries. Besides, at the time the filming took place, Vlasov had 21 years, so I would have done it too (laughter). There is a rumor that Zhirinovsky uses young boys. In the case of Vlasov there seem to be doubts about how, being so young, had been able to reach that position and that she probably had relations with him. It also seems that his father did a lot to launch his career., That's why there are sequences in which his mother appears, to present himself as a normal person who has no one in politics to help him. Besides, He has not had a relationship with him for a long time and has nothing to do with politics either..
Definitely, One of the main themes of the film is how women play a secondary role in Russian politics.. I wanted you to tell us if this exclusively affects this match, because of his ideology, or is it something common to everyone. What is the situation?
This happens not only in politics, It is something general in Russia. This emancipation that women seem to enjoy, It's a bit of a theater. The woman works like a man, but in the afternoon in many families the man is resting, but the woman continues working with household things. In the case of young politicians, above all, They are very conservative in those right-wing parties. It's something we're deeply involved in.. They are fighting for it, but very little.
There is a sequence in which Zhirinovski rebukes a journalist who, besides, is pregnant. You yourself tell Vlasov, who has experienced that event, who seemed uncomfortable with that. Do you think that, with young politicians like him, even if it's conservative, there could be some kind of change in that sense?
Vlasov is a very clear example of good politicians who are able to avoid questions and make it seem like they feel ashamed., But it really doesn't seem like that's how it feels. No, I don't think so. He is capable of making his career in any way.
The film uses humor to describe Vlasov's character. There is currently a debate about whether treating this type of characters or parties with irony may perhaps be more negative than positive when it comes to discrediting them.. What do you think?
Bueno, it is necessary to use humor. Politics is a theater and we are all spectators. So that way of showing politics using satire is to affirm it more, to expose it further, because each politician has their role. I am sure that Zhirinovsky is not like that in his normal life.. There is a
