Documentary film “When the war began” and discussion of the topic “Russian propaganda - before and during the war”

On Thursday, November 23, at 6 p.m., at the premises of the Finland-Russia Society (Suomi-Venäjä seura), the documentary film “When the War Began” will be shown and the topic “Russian propaganda - before and during the war” will be discussed.

Russia's war against Ukraine has forced hundreds of thousands of Russians who do not support the war to leave Russia. Among them are many cultural figures who actively made anti-war statements. One of them is the famous Russian playwright Mikhail Durnenkov. His plays were staged in many theaters in Europe and America.

After the start of the war in Ukraine, due to his anti-war position, Mikhail was forced to emigrate to Finland. The film shows excerpts from anti-war plays written back in 2014-2015, in which war is felt to be approaching.

The war divided family and friends on opposite sides of borders and beliefs. Mikhail Durnenkov is a laureate of the Russian theater award "Golden Mask", playwright, screenwriter, teacher, and an active participant in democratic and anti-war actions. In 2014-2015, against the background of the beginning of the military confrontation between Russia and Ukraine, Mikhail Durnenkov wrote the plays “The War Has Not Started Yet” and “Victory Day”, in which there was clearly a premonition of an impending disaster.

How did Russian propaganda prepare the people for the need for war, what forms of propaganda are used to support and motivate people in Russia to continue fighting the war? Is it possible to have any effective influence on the minds of Russians who support the war?

We invite everyone to watch the film and discuss the topic. The film has English subtitles. The conversation will be held in Russian with the participation of Mikhail Durnenkov.


Address: Kanavaranta 7 F 27, Helsinki, 2nd floor, Suomi-Venäjä-seuran toimisto, kulttuuritila Albatross.