A Siberian History of Soviet Films: Manufacturing Visions of the Indigenous Peoples of the North

＂In A Siberian History of Soviet Films, Caroline Damiens combines a detailed analysis of key Soviet film and TV works such as Tymancha’s Friend (1969), The Most Beautiful Ships (1972), Tracking the Wolverine (1978) and When the Whales Leave (1981) with primary sources like press articles, archives, and interviews. In doing so, she reveals how these cinematic portrayals were created and negotiated, providing insight into the concepts of progress and authenticity in the Soviet context. She emphasizes the role of indigenous individuals in shaping their cinematic image, both in front of and behind the camera, highlighting the works of lesser-known figures like Suntsai Geonka, Zinaida Pikounova, and Iurii Rytkheu. In doing so, Damiens emphasizes the multifaceted nature of film, where interpretations differ based on the perspectives of those involved＂--

Caroline Damiens is Associate Professor in film studies at the University of Paris Nanterre, France. She gained her PhD at the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilisations, Paris, and was a postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Research and Higher Education at the Quai Branly Museum, Paris.