A-Level Essay On Expression Of Russian Soul For Free Use

“Cheburashka”, an outstanding Soviet movie made by Roman Kachanov in 1971 is a bright representation of Soviet culture. In order to understand the main idea of the movie it is important to consider some particular scenes. The Cheburashka Soviet cartoon explained the shortcomings of the Soviet society in a subtle way; human traits of acquisitiveness and trickery were satirized and shown in a negative way. The role of the Soviet government could not be discussed by ordinary people.
The Cheburashka cartoon promoted the idea of humility before the Soviet government. In other words, the main heroes never dared to object any governmental policies, they always acted diligently and prudently, with no intention of cheating somebody or stealing something, etc. Harsh social discipline was promoted throughout the Cheburashka cartoon, explaining the young audience of the Soviet Union the positive human traits such as humility and prudence in the face of the governmental or law enforcement officials such as police officers. Cheburashka and his friend Gena were putting up with all hardships throughout the cartoon, never daring to question the expediency of various policies conducted by police officers or guards. The main villain in the movie was extremely entrepreneurial and clever, but acquisitiveness and preoccupation with money-making were portrayed as something disgusting within the framework of the Soviet society. Soviet propaganda satirized any intentions on making and getting richer. Soviet people could get richer only if they served loyally to the government, putting up with all hardships.
Secondly, the movie reflects on the culture of soviet-union that was more collective and humane than that of the western nations. The scenes about building friendly houses have shown there is a strong humanity association among the community. Also, the fact that made Cheburaska and Gena help the boys scouts characterized some social connection between the people within the community. This attitude was learned during Stalin era where people were grouped in the collectivism farm and also lived in the collective houses. Another important scene that explain the Russian and soviet history is when the Cheburaska and Gena wanted to join the boys scouts team but they did not get access due to lack of knowledge of how to match them. This can be explained by the fact that Russia have tried to follow the western democracy and others western beliefs since Peter the Great until Yeltsin but they have failed, and also the western people did not like to show them the right way. Cheburaska and Gena have come up with the new way of building the playground for kids instead of the birds houses. This fact can be symbolized by Putin idea of managed democracy which was different from the western but with the ideas of keeping his people save and happy. Besides, the final scene of Shapoklyak being forgiven by the company is an example of how Putin’s politics avoids punishing the Stalin era offenders.
Cheburashka embodied a humble Soviet citizen who never dared to question the governmental policies. Cheburashka's imprisonment in the zoo could mean imprisonment of Soviet citizens in the labor camps throughout the USSR. Shapokliak embodied so called “people's enemy,” which meant any Soviet citizen, involved in anti-Soviet activities. Sometimes, Cheburaska, Gena, and Shapokliak could form temporary alliances, helping each other, but entrepreneurial Shapokliak was a main villain in the cartoon because she was preoccupied with the ideas of making money. Shapokliak was willing to outsmart others for profit. Hence, Soviet propaganda depicted entrepreneurial Soviet citizens as villains who undermined the major principles of the Soviet society.