February 26, 2016

The Force is Strong There


The Force is Strong There

Recently Dubrovnik, Croatia, was the focus of rumors that the next Star Wars movie, Episode VIII, will do some filming there. Already a TV star, Dubrovnik has appeared as King’s Landing in the popular series Game of Thrones, its winding cobbled streets and medieval stone fortresses doubling as authentic fantasy locations.

It’s not known yet precisely where the Star Wars crew will film, or what galaxy far, far away the city will represent, but there are plenty of available tight corners, twisty lanes, dead ends and ancient structures left over from another time, if not another world.

This news made us curious about hidden connections between Star Wars and other countries we love:

Party Latecomers: Russia 1990

The first Star Wars film, A New Hope, was released in 1977, but Russia was 13 years late to the release party. Why?

Because, as Nadezhda Ustinova writes in an article in Russia Beyond the Headlines, “A long time ago, in a country far far away, which no longer exists on the political map of the world… Star Wars was not released in movie theaters.”

Only party bigwigs and actors got to see the dangerously free-spirited “Space Westerns,” as they were called, when they came out in the 70s and 80s, although pirated and dubbed copies were soon reproduced and distributed to a growing audience of underground fans.

Apparently, even the official USSR premiere in 1990 ran bootlegged videos, and new posters had to be commissioned to advertise them. Not too long after that, the Soviet Union fell apart. Coincidence? Or could it have been an indication of the strength of the Force?

Ever since 2000, when licensed copies of the original trilogy made their way around Russia, the latest Star Wars episodes have opened in the country within the same timeframe as the rest of the world.

 

Hand painted Star Wars nesting dolls by Andy Stattmiller.

Hand painted Star Wars nesting dolls by Andy Stattmiller

Cosmic Nesting Dolls

And since 2000, a new take on an old art form has emerged as well – Star Wars nesting matrioshka dolls. Though painted in the U.S. by San Francisco artist Andy Stattmiller (buy), they make use of the ubiquitous blank nesting doll templates that are decorated and sold to travelers all over Russia.

Traditionally matrioshkas were girl dolls, but in the 90s they took a more populist turn, with political leaders and rock stars found nesting inside one another. So it was only a matter of time before Jabba the Hut et al got into the act.

Hand painted Star Wars nesting dolls by Andy Stattmiller.

Hand painted Star Wars nesting dolls by Andy Stattmiller

 

Taunting the Dark Side: Poland and Ukraine

We found that the Force is strong in Poland and Ukraine, although the Dark Side has made inroads. For example, a mysterious metamorphosis in the town of Wejherowo, Poland, can be observed whenever it snows.

In the town square, a statue of the town’s namesake, Polish nobleman Jakub Wejher, shape-shifts as the snow flutters down into a menacing Darth Vader, cloak billowing behind him, darkened light-sabre slapping against his leg, and snout-like breathing apparatus hanging from his ravaged face.

Darth Vader in Poland / Image credits: polskieszlaki.pl / Wejherowo.pl

From hero to heavy – Image credits: polskieszlaki.pl / Wejherowo.pl

 

In other Darth Vader news, artists in Odessa, Ukraine, have updated a statue of the out-of-favor autocrat Vladimir Lenin. With only a few tweaks, they’ve transformed Lenin into his intergalactic relative, Lord Vader. And they updated it to radiate free Wi-Fi.

Also in Odessa, a dark horse candidate named Darth Mykolaiovych Vader ran a losing campaign for mayor, a metaphorical defeat for the Dark Side.

 

Collectable Posters: Hungary, Poland, Russia

It turns out that Star Wars poster art has been flourishing overseas all this time, ignored by all but the most hardcore fans. Especially original and collectable are the Hungarian posters created by Tibor Helényi, toward the bottom of the article, and the 1990 Soviet posters by Yuri Bokser and Alexander Chantsev.

The Empire Strikes Back, Hungary, 1982, by Tibor Helényi (Star Wars Klub) / A New Hope, Hungary, 1979, by András Felvidéki (Star Wars Klub)

The Empire Strikes Back, Hungary, 1982, by Tibor Helényi (Star Wars Klub) /
A New Hope, Hungary, 1979, by András Felvidéki (Star Wars Klub)


This post originally appeared on the blog of MIR Corporation, the 30-year-old expert in travel to all destinations in Eastern Europe and Russia, including those which may or may not have a link with Star Wars. Reprinted with permission.

Top photo: Collectable Star Wars posters: USSR, 1990, by Yury Bokser and Alexander Chantsev (eBay) / The Empire Strikes Back, Poland, 1982, Jakub Erol (PolishPoster)

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

The Little Humpbacked Horse

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
At the Circus

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
22 Russian Crosswords

22 Russian Crosswords

Test your knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and society with these 22 challenging puzzles taken from the pages of Russian Life magazine. Most all the clues are in English, but you must fill in the answers in Russian. If you get stumped, of course all the puzzles have answers printed at the back of the book.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
Jews in Service to the Tsar

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955