Generation P (2011) - Victor Ginzburg

Mostly an act of desperation due to his lack of funds, a disillusioned poet, Babylen Tatarsky, falls into the advertising world, quickly discovering that he has a supreme talent for coming up with distinct Russian slogans and/or selling points for Western products.  After much success, Babylen finds himself pulled into the world of politics, where his unique selling ability comes in handy.  Victor Ginzburg's Generation P is a surreal experience suggesting that politics in Russia are not too different than advertising for any product, going so far as to suggest that politicians themselves can be created virtually in an effort to sway the unsuspecting public towards the desired legislation.  Generation P is a cynical look into newly Capitalist Russia, using Babylen to exemplify the young disillusioned generation.  Given it's cynical nature, the film is actually quite bright, clean and vivid, opting for a much more fast-paced, kinetic visual style that uses tons of surreal imagery to create a rather unforgettable visual experience.  While Generation P should be praised solely for its ambition, the film struggles at times balancing its themes with a narrative that feels a little bit wobbly and unfocused at times.  To be fair,  the film does appear to be deeply routed in post-soviet discourse, so there are probably some things which I just missed, lacking the knowledge background necessary.  In the end, the sheer passion of the filmmaker shines through creating a flawed, yet ultimately fascinating look into the world of media manipulation and politics.

7.75/10

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