Private Project

Our Africa

1955. The USSR starts humanitarian aid programs based on Marxist ideology in several newly independent African countries. For more than 35 years the Soviets expand their influence in Africa. Soviet filmmakers are sent along to document the glorious advance of socialism on the entire continent. After the fall of the Soviet empire Russia lost political interest in Africa, but thousands of kilometers of footage shot on African soil remain. With the help of filmmakers from back then, OUR AFRICA will recreate the time of the “Great Utopia” and expose the mechanisms behind the creation of propaganda films.

  • Alexander Markov
    Director
  • Alexander Markov
    Writer
  • St. Petersburg Studio of Documentary Films (SDF)
    Producer
    Alexey Telnov
  • Ukulele film
    Producer
    Alexander Markov, Stan Poplavskii
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    45 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    180,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Russian Federation
  • Language:
    English, Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    35 mm
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Visions du reel

    Switzerland
  • artdocfest

    Latvia
  • African Film Festival
    New York
    United States
Distribution Information
  • Ukulele Film
    Country: Russian Federation
Director Biography - Alexander Markov

Alexander Markov is a documentary filmmaker, cinema historian and artist.
He directs films in Saint Petersburg and abroad, teaches documentary directing at Saint
Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television, and works as an independent curator. His video
installations were shown at Sharjah Biennial, Calvert 22, Iwalewahaus, Africa.Cont, CEU etc.
Markov's films were participated and awarded prizes at various international film festivals like
Berlinale Talents, Visions Du Reel, DocPoint, Sheffield Doc, Film Africa, Message To Man,
NYAFF, Artdocfest, Cinefest, Directors Lounge, Stalker, Temps De Images and others.
Markov has directed a number of documentary films, including:
Museum of Dreams (5 min, 35 mm, 2000); Lullaby (20 min, 35 mm, 2002); Cities within
Cities (26 min, BetaSP, 2003); Russian Costa Rica (52 min, HDV, 2008); Two Highways (26
min, BetaSP, 2008); Pastoral (26 min, HDV, 2008); Delusion (7 min, HDV, 2010); Children of
the Sun (15 min, HD, 2011); Get Used to This Place (15 min, HD, 2011); German Portraits
Russian Style (15 min, HD, 2012), Our Africa (45 min, HD, 2018)

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Soviet documentary films should be treated like advertisements. You should not let
yourself be seduced by them, although it is quite difficult to resist their graceful
structures. They are seemingly plastered with honey, especially in the 1960s. They
are so easy to edit: each shot jibes nicely with the next one. They remind me of an
ideal puzzle, which can be put together any way you like. Pleasing everyone was a
the main trait of the "high" Soviet style. Soviet documentary films broadcast their
own version of how African countries gained their independence. This is a peculiar
world to which we must find the key and gain the access code. I have realized that
the notion of “Soviet Africa” should not be taken literally. There is no pure
viewpoint: it is always muddled. Are there ways to clarify it? The image is
constantly accompanied by commentary, which gives us no space and peace to
examine everything with our own eyes. I want to liberate independent Africa from
the Soviet viewpoint. At first glance, it seems like an impossible wish. However,
liberating independent Africa from the Soviet ideology sounds like a tempting
proposition.