
Sparkling,masterfuldébutbyKovalovisfound-footagecompilationofe.g.newsitems,propagandamaterialandinstructionfilms.Forhisdirectingdébut,OlegKovalovchoseaveryextravagantexperiment.Asabasishetookapropagandafilmfromthefifties,TheCaseofCorporalKochetkov,dissectedthisasitwereandgavethenakedstructureanewsubstanceandnewaccentsbyre-cuttingtheshotsandaddingdocumentarymaterialfromthefifties,suchasnewsreelfootageofKhrushchev'svisittoAmericaandpicturesofthevisitbyYvesMontandandSimoneSignorettoMoscow.ThefilmaboutcorporalKochetkovcalledontheSovietcitizenstobeontheirguardandshowedhowslytheenemywas:forinstanceitcouldposeasaninnocentgirl.Kovalovcreamsofftheemotionalfrothfromthismelodrama,deconstructsitscodesandsubjectsittoathoughtfulanalysis.Forinstanceherevealsparanoiaandspy-phobia,complexesinthe'collectiveSovietunconscious'thatisstillactiveeveninrelativelyenlightenedperiods.
