Documentary not appropriate for schoolchildren

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

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

In Lukas' words, Estoniashould make its own film on the subject that could be used as teachingmaterial, including in Estonia'sRussian schools.

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

The documentary shows unique documents and chronicles, reflects opinions ofinternationally recognized history authorities and politicians and evidence ofthe Latvians, Ukrainians, Finns and Russians, victims of the totalitarianregime.

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 Latvianfilmmaker Edvins Snore. The National Political Group in the European Parliamentwas a sponsor of the documentary.
The documentary premiered in the European Parliament on April 9.