By: Lucie Coppola
UMass Boston’s 2013 Film Series, a season of free independent films held in the campus center ballroom, kicked off with the empowering documentary Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer. This film tells the tale of three members of the punk feminist group “Pussy Riot” who took part in a 40 second satirical performance at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow and because of it faced seven years in a Russian prison. Director Mike Lerner and co-director Maxim Pozdorovkin depict the true and gripping story of Nadia, Masha, and Katia’s journey through their arrest and court trial.
Pozdorovkin, who was present on Sept. 25, made the disclaimer before the documentary started that among flash photography there would also be “graphic sex and loud rock’n roll.”
The film centered exactly on that. By using this form of performance art the girls were voicing their opinion in a more unconventional manner, but a very powerful and captivating one at that. The story drew its audience in with the loud and heavy Russian screams of the members showing their opposition to the injustice of the Russian President Vladimir Putin and the authoritarian ties the government has with the Orthodox Church.
Pussy Riot is comprised of anonymous members from all over Russia who wear bright neon colored homemade balaclavas, tights, and dresses. The basis for this story hails from the infamous performance on February 2012 in which members invaded the altar of the largest Cathedral in Moscow and played a song that depicted their opposition of Putin and his allegiance with the Orthodox Christian Church until officials and security broke them up. Later members Nasexhda (Nadia) Tolokinnikova, Maria (Masha) Alyokhina, and Yekaterian (Katia) Samutsevich were arrested on the charges of “hooliganism.”
The court trial was long and became very public catching not only all of Russia’s attention, but much of the world around it as well. Using their form of oppositional art, these women captivated and engaged thousands of people who then came to the streets to back them up and show their agreement for what
Pussy Riot was criticized for its performance. However they are not the only ones who came to protest from this act. The other half contained the very upset and angered Orthodox community, which proved they are a force to be reckoned with. The streets were filled with angry people protesting, fighting, and being reprimanded by officers.
This single case caused an uproar that had almost everyone involved, either offended or in agreement, both fighting for justice.
All in all from the trial the girls did not deny that they weren’t apologetic and sorry for what they did, but stood their ground and fought with poise and dignity for what they believed in. They came to realize throughout that they had offended many and were both sympathetic and apologetic.
However they continued to fight for the injustice they felt within the system, and with Putin, and even with this very case they were being put through. The verdict arrived guilty as Nadia and Masha continue to serve their two-year sentence while Katia was let off on parole.
This film fights hard against forces of repression with consequences of the unjust fighting back just as, if not harder, giving insight not only to the injustice in what happened with Pussy Riot, but also with contemporary Russia today.
It may leave you with the harsh feelings generated from oppression and inequality, perhaps even some anger and utter shock that something so ridiculous could take place.
Over-all Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer is a provocative, interesting documentary that one must see to judge for themselves.
