Unknown Belarus
Unknown Belarus
It’s often called Europe’s last dictatorship; an oppressed, Russified country with scrupulously clean cities and a passion for potatoes. But how does everyday Belarus actually tick? And how do Belarusians define themselves? Thanks to scant media coverage, many outsiders struggle to say. But it is much more than “a center of Russian influence” or a “post-Soviet state.” From Minsk market workers to domestic violence shelters and state-assigned jobs, our archived documentary series Unknown Belarus, created by Belarusian directors Lyubov Zemtsova, Julia Shatun, and producer Vladimir Mikhailovski, introduces you to the people, places, and phenomena of the real, little-seen Belarus.
Schedule:
Unknown Belarus premiered on Sunday, February 16, 2020. The archived series can be watched on YouTube.
From This Program:
The Shelter (Subtitled) - March 2020
This is the story of a sanctuary for female victims of domestic violence in a country that has no law against such abuse. For about the past 10 years, Belarus’ The Shelter (Ubezhishche), run by a non-profit in the capital, Minsk, has welcomed Belarusian women and their children at any time of day, in whatever condition they may be. In this episode, you’ll learn about the real-life stories of The Shelter’s residents and what challenges not only its clients, but the organization itself, face.
A Journalist-Turned-Barista Dreams Big
Unknown Belarus' premiere episode takes a look at the country's largest agricultural bazaar, Minsk's Komarovsky market, popularly known as Komarovka. The stories of the farmers and workers here offer insight into everyday life from throughout Belarus.