Review of My Perestroika (2010) by Nate L — 29 Mar 2011

Robin Hessman's 'My Perestroika' is a film that focuses on 5 classmates who grew up and came of age just as the Soviet Union collapsed. Hessman follows the 5 classmates; two teachers who are married to each other, one retired punk rock star, one single mother, and a successful international businessman, and explores their youth through a series of conversations combined with footage from their youth. The strength in Hessman's film lies in its intimacy. Hessman has said that she shot the entire film herself, eschewing any sort of crew for convenience's sake. The implication that it was Hessman alone with her subjects is apparent in the film. To the viewer it is easy to see and appreciate the openness that the five main characters have in front of the camera. The connection that Hessman creates with her characters easily translates to the viewer, something that looks easy, but often times is not.

One thing that would have been nice to see but not necessarily possible would be to have the five subjects together in a scene that might act as the culmination to the film. Assuming that Hessman didn't arrange any of the shots then this wouldn't be possible. I did sense that there was some lack of finality once the film was over. Yet, for my qualms with the film's conclusion I still feel that it did a fantastic job conveying the authenticity of the lives of her characters.