Alyona Surzhikova opens her sixth-grade friendsbook, a relic from her childhood in Estonia. The book, filled with classmates' thoughts on love and dreams, prompts her to reconnect with them 25 years later. She travels to Russia, Germany, and Cambodia to find her former classmates. Many have moved abroad, with half living outside Estonia. Surzhikova asks them about their lives and what they would write in the Form today. Their stories reflect the changes since Estonia regained independence.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

Meet Alyona Surzhikova and her childhood friends.
Find out what dreams came true for Russian kids.
See how Estonia's independence shaped personal stories.

Did You Know

Alyona Surzhikova browses her 6th grade friendsbook 25 years later.
Half of Surzhikova's classmates now live abroad.
The friendsbook was commonly filled out by girls during Soviet times.

Perfect For

Soviet history enthusiastsNostalgia for the 1990sCultural identity exploration

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a friendsbook in the context of Soviet times?

A friendsbook was a personal book where classmates wrote about their thoughts on love, future aspirations, and favorite foods, similar to Facebook today.

How many of Alyona Surzhikova's classmates live abroad?

Half of Surzhikova's classmates are living abroad.

What did Alyona Surzhikova do with her 6th grade friendsbook?

She browsed her friendsbook and traveled to find her classmates to see if their dreams had come true.

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