Too much of everything

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

This movie is the first independent film about present-day Belarus, an obscure and often misunderstood country in the middle of Europe. Belarus has been ruled for twenty years by "the last dictator of Europe", Alexander Lukashenko, who has driven his country into isolation and decay. However, a vibrant artistic and cultural life finds its way past censorship, totalitarian control and general apathy to produce little gems like "Viva Belarus". The storyline follows the coming of age of a young musician, Miron. Miron, through a series of life-changing events, gets involved in the opposition movement and takes stand against the oppressive regime. He starts as an ordinary rock-singer, playing with his band in different bars of the capital city Minsk. However, soon enough his attitude, music and texts attracts the attention of Belarusian KGB. Miron is promptly sent to serve in the army where he can taste all the "pleasures" of post-soviet discipline: humiliation, beatings, forced labour, absence of privacy, lack of human conditions. But it only pushes Miron further into resistance. With the help of his friends, he creates a blog to mock the army and Lukashenko's regime. His "insider" messages from the barracks enflames Belarusian society and soon a movement of opposition gains force. The movie touches different subjects that are still a sad reality in Belarus: secret police services, electoral fraud, Chernobyl explosion and its consequences, repressive army etc. At the same time it gives hope for the future. In the end of the movie, a freedom movement, born in the social networks, finds its way to the streets. The acting is sometimes a bit naïve and the storyline quite straightforward, but the film is powerful in its veracity. It has become today an inspiration for many young Belarusians. Great music is also an essential component of the movie. The story is based on true events. The movie is of course banned in its own country.