Documentary not appropriate for schoolchildren

Jun 06, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

TALLINN - Estonian Education Minister Tonis Lukas does not recommend using the Soviet Story, a Latvian documentary on Soviet era atrocities that has drawn controversial reviews, as teaching material in schools.

The minister believes that the film, which tells about Soviet Communists' collaboration with German Nazis in organizing mass killings, is accurate but that it is just too shocking to be shown to children, according to Estonia's Reporer.ee website.

In Lukas' words, Estonia should make its own film on the subject that could be used as teaching material, including in Estonia's Russian schools.

The film tells about the Great Famine in Ukraine, the Katyn massacre, the SS-KGB collaboration and Soviet mass deportations, Latvian Television spokeswoman Ievina Liepina told BNS.

The documentary shows unique documents and chronicles, reflects opinions of internationally recognized history authorities and politicians and evidence of the Latvians, Ukrainians, Finns and Russians, victims of the totalitarian regime.

The Soviet Story was filmed in two years.

The documentary analyzes the Soviet heritage and its impact on contemporary Europe.

The film has been produced by producer group Labvakar and directed by Latvian filmmaker Edvins Snore. The National Political Group in the European Parliament was a sponsor of the documentary.
The documentary premiered in the European Parliament on April 9.

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