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Deep Dive: Ouverture (1994)

Film Lens

Ouverture
The documentary 'Ouverture' covers the self-coup by President Boris Yeltsin in September and October of 1993. It focuses on the military attack on the parliament building and the resulting street fights that led to civilian deaths. The film is constructed from raw and uncut footage shot by a crew from St. Petersburg, who initially arrived in Moscow to film a concert by cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. Through this unfiltered lens, the documentary presents a critical moment in Russian history, illustrating the chaos and violence that unfolded during the constitutional crisis. The events depicted provide insight into the political turmoil of the time and the drastic measures taken by Yeltsin to consolidate power.

Why Watch

  • See raw footage of the 1993 military attack in Moscow.
  • Find out about Boris Yeltsin's controversial self-coup.
  • Meet civilians caught in the street fights during the crisis.

Did You Know

The documentary features footage from the military attack on the parliament building.
Boris Yeltsin's self-coup occurred in September and October of 1993.
The film was originally intended to cover a concert by Mstislav Rostropovich.

Perfect For

Russian political historyCivil unrest studiesDocumentary enthusiasts