HOW RUSSIA DOES IT

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1935, Page 8

HOW RUSSIA DOES IT

CINEMA AS HARVESTING AID SLACKERS RIDICULED. “SHOCK WORKERS” PRAISED. MOSCOW, Sept. 5. Six thousand cinema units have invaded Russia’s teeming wheat plains for the purpose of increasing labour efficiency and producing this year the largest harvest in the nation’s history. Field camps set up on the open plains during the harvesting season are being turned into “cultural neld camps.” On to these camps the cinema units consisting of a cinema operator, cartoonist and lecturer, descend in the morning and spend the day investigating the progress of the harvesting, fully familiarising themselves with its shortcomings.

By nightfall comic cartoons have been prepared and flashed on the screen ridiculing slackers, who are referred to by name, and lavishing praise upon the “shock workers.” A brief “pep” talk on the excellent work done in the neighbouring regions is followed by the magic of an entertaining film.

By this method the Soviet authorities expect to instil the competitive spirit in Russia’s millions of wheatland workers and to restore enthusiasm for another stretch of work.

Nor is the programme one entirely devoid of politics. The lecturer often dilates upon the international situation and the imminent danger of an attack upon Russia. The 6,000 cinema units have instructions to travel from camp to camp. In Kharkov Province alone during the first 15 days of the present harvesting season 326 cinema units have arranged performances for 75,000 peasants.