Storyville

East Side Story (1998x1)

Air date: Jan 03, 1998

Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's favourite film, which he viewed over 100 times, was the musical comedy 'Volga Volga'—it tells the story of a group of farm workers determined to prove themselves. His devotion is at least partly explained by the film's use of his favourite slogan: "Life is better, life is happier." Dana Ranga 's film recalls the often strange and forgotten attempts by Soviet film-makers to match Hollywood's popular appeal by entertaining the socialist masses with pieces that choreographed workers' unstinting physical labours.