Filmmaker Evgeny Mitta’s documentary centers on the Russian all-female Pussy Riot collective of performance artists, who famously became a thorn in the side of the Kremlin starting in 2011. Given to noisy, musical protests while wearing ski masks in public places, Pussy Riot’s guerrilla tactics gained traction with YouTube videos and extensive press coverage. Eventually, three of the women were arrested following a controversial protest at a church, followed by lengthy stints in jail awaiting trial. Footage from those arrests, court proceedings, and related events are painfully fascinating to watch, all resulting in two-year prison sentences handed out for "hooliganism." This heavy-handed response sparked an international backlash from many, including musical artists such as Paul McCartney and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Pussy Riot members are interviewed before and after their punishments, looking weary and anxious for some semblance of normalcy. A timely documentary about free speech in a semi-autocratic country, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (T. Keogh)
Act & Punishment: The Pussy Riot Trials
(2018) 90 min. DVD: $19.95. Music Video Distributors (avail. from most distributors). Volume 33, Issue 3
Act & Punishment: The Pussy Riot Trials
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