Work filled with everyday heroism: a lecture on the feat of military newsreel cameramen was held at the National Centre RUSSIA
The lecture "Come and See: The Feat of Newsreel Cameramen during the Great Patriotic War" took place as part of the "Thursday. Development" project at the National Centre RUSSIA on the eve of Victory Day, May 8.
The event presented the story of the heroic deeds of the newsreel cameramen who, risking their lives, captured the events of the war years under the most difficult and dangerous conditions. Guests saw unique archival footage and were able to immerse themselves in that atmosphere thanks to visual images recreating the spirit and reality of wartime.
The speakers were Maria Palshkova, Senior Researcher at the Scientific Research Institute of Cinematic Art and Education VGIK, and Alexei Golubev, film scholar, documentary film director, editor-in-chief of the online publication "Museum CSDF," member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, and member of the Union of Journalists of Moscow. The moderator of the meeting was Yulia Kozlova, live broadcast host of Russian society Znanie and chief moderator of Channel One.
"Frontline cameramen left us valuable materials — evidence of the war years. Their work was truly heroic. They risked their lives every day, many were wounded, every eighth was killed; therefore, what they did is a genuine military, civil, and human feat. We must preserve the memory of these remarkable people. I met and personally knew some of them, and I was always amazed by the incredible modesty with which they recalled their combat days. For them it was simply a job, devoid of heroism and naïve romanticism: they did their work, and did it very well," noted Alexei Golubev.
The director emphasised that it is essential to rewatch combat newsreels because they give an incredible emotional impulse to remember our glorious grandfathers and great-grandfathers who fought for the freedom and independence of our country.
"Newsreels from the period of the Great Patriotic War, unfortunately, are not well known to the average viewer, although they are of the utmost importance in preserving the memory of the feat and struggle of our people. Possessing the tragic power of a cinematic document, Russian military newsreels at the same time retain astonishing humanity and warmth. Becoming acquainted with the footage shot by our heroic frontline cameramen would have a significant influence on the younger generation," believes Maria Palshkova.
She stated that the first cameramen were sent to the front the day after the war began. Confronted in the early stages of the war with serious technical and psychological challenges in capturing the horrors of war, frontline cameramen adapted rather quickly to the new difficult conditions, turning into real warriors for whom the camera became a weapon.
Alexei Golubev noted that there were no random people among the military newsreel cameramen; it was necessary to have both experience and knowledge. They were cameramen from studios in various cities of the USSR and students of VGIK. They went by the call of the heart.
With the help of music, rare photographs and video footage, the audience felt the importance of those events, experienced pride in their ancestors and discovered a new facet of history.
The original programme of the National Centre RUSSIA, "Thursday. Development," is a series of educational events where experts from different industries talk about their activities, present achievements, share professional experience and recommendations useful for a wide audience, and answer questions from the public. The new platform promotes productive exchange of experience and the search for like-minded people. Previously, participants at the events discussed the impact of nutrition on beauty and health, issues of ecology and animal protection, the dangers of video shorts, and much more.
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