Miss Gulag

Considering the extremes to which the reality TV phenomenon has been taken, it was only a matter of time before America was treated to a beauty pageant at a women's prison in Siberia. But this is actually a true story, and a surprisingly good film to boot.

Russian-American filmmakers Maria Yatskova and Irina Vodar give us an intimate glimpse into the lives of several current and former inmates of prison camp UF-91/9. These young women have struggled with the challenges of life in post-Soviet Russia, as drugs, poverty, and violence led them each onto the wrong side of the prison walls. It's a harsh work camp, where the women work long hours making uniforms for soldiers, but once a year they are allowed to use the sewing machines to express their own creativity and femininity. The inmates take their "Miss Spring" contest seriously, and the results are both amusing and endearing.

Despite a light, humorous tone to many of the scenes, "Miss Gulag" captures the frustration and despair felt by those who have been denied a share of the new prosperity and personal freedom in Russia. But it's also a testament to the power of human imagination to flourish in unlikely places. Highly recommended.

Miss Gulag provides a sensitive and captivating look at the new generation of women to grow up free in post-Soviet Russia. The film is beautifully shot and the women's stories are genuinely moving. Also provides amazing access into an often overlooked part of Russia - the rural lands of Siberia and prison.

I was very impressed to learn that this was the effort of a first-time director, Maria Yatskova. Her ability to capture and translate this subject matter in a moving and subtle style had the feeling of a far more experienced professional film-maker.

I look forward to more films by this group of talented individuals. They succeed in taking the documentary format to the next level.

I am generally not a fan of foreign language films with subtitles, but this film proved to be very captivating, with an engaging, powerful story and an affirming ending. The strength of the story lied in the fact that the characters knew how to make the best out of most grim circumstances and still persevere.

I loved the Beauty Pageant subplot of the film. It was a great way to release pressure and anxiety of the narrative and let the characters enjoy themselves, regroup in their womanhood, take the edge off while dressing up in beautiful clothes. Some of them have been in prison for so many years, they lost touch with their feminine side, and participation in a beauty pageant touched them right in the heart, reminding of what it's like to be a woman again, and seeing the benefit of living life in the right way, without crime.

This movie brings out the importance of how precious every minute of freedom in life is. I think it was well written and tastefully done. It held my attention till the very end. Congratulation to the film crew on the making of a very interesting film.