Oleg: The Oleg Vidov Story

Vidov came out of politically problematic origins to become the leading Soviet matinee idol of his era. An unfortunate marriage into the Brezhnev inner circle brought him regret, ultimately leading to his defection to the West. He returned to post-Soviet Russia to broker the acquisition of the Soviet cartoon film library for curation and dissemination in the West. The Putin regime retaliated, but he and his wife and partner Joan Borsten prevailed in a US court, forcing the Russian government to buy them out. This documentary captures it all and is evocative of its time.

I watched this with friends who came of age in teh Soviet Union during Vidov's rise to superstar status. They loved every minute. I know the post-Soviet period of Vidov's life best and also loved the film. It captures a moment throuigh the microcosm of an individual life.