Written by Linda
February 07, 2009
This engaging documentary retraces the story of Soviet photographer Evgueni Khaldei, who was a Jewish man hand-picked by Stalin himself to be his official photographer. Never mind that Khaldei's family was killed in a pogrom when he was an infant, or that he suffered from anti-Semitism his entire career. His photos from Stalin's era are world-famous and epitomized the view of communism endorsed by the party itself.
Khaldei, now an old man, basically had his career destroyed in his prime - twice. He was abruptly let go from the Tass Agency in 1948 for his Jewish origins, and didn't work again until Stalin's death in 1953, when he was hired by Pravda. Again, he was fired in 1972 for being a Jew.
For such a harsh life, the elderly Khaldei is a charming and funny man, with a lifetime of great stories. The documentary takes us into his studio, where he shares stories of not only his most famous photos, but of ones that were never seen because of controversy. For instance, his most famous photo, of the Soviet flag being hoisted by a soldier on top of the Reichstag in Berlin signifying end of World War II, was apparently retouched. The soldier holding the flag visibly had a watch on each of his wrists. The Soviet officials didn't want their soldiers to be portrayed to the world as looters, so the extra watch was erased on the negative before it went to newswires.
This documentary is a treat not only for history buffs and people interested in photography, but is a great piece of folklore and oral history. Khaldei is a real charmer, despite the hardships that he has experienced in his life. Clocking in at a brisk 60 minutes, Evgueni Khaldei: Photographer Under Stalin, is about the perfect length of an interesting chat with a great artist.
