POV · SEASON 21
Belarusian Waltz
Episode 8 · 2008-08-12

- Documentary
Episode overview
Belarus has been called "Europe's last dictatorship." Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has ruled the ex-Soviet republic with a despotic hand, jailing the opposition, shutting down the press and refusing to investigate the assassinations of dissidents. He has virtually silenced his critics — but not one lone performance artist who stages public stunts mocking the dictator's pretensions. Belarusian Waltz is the story of Alexander Pushkin, whose audacious, comical exploits find him facing the hostility of the police and the consternation of his family. An offbeat tale of post-modern street theater meeting 1930s-style authoritarianism, the film offers a surprising window into the soul of the Belarusian people.
60 minutes
Season 21 episodes
1. Traces of the Trade: A Story From the Deep North2008-06-24
2. Election Day2008-07-01
3. The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández2008-07-08
4. The Last Conquistador2008-07-15
5. 9 Star Hotel2008-07-22
6. Campaign2008-07-29
7. Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music2008-08-05
8. Belarusian Waltz2008-08-12
9. The Judge and the General2008-08-19
10. Calavera Highway2008-09-16
11. Critical Condition2008-09-30
12. In the Family2008-10-01
13. Up the Yangtze2008-10-08
14. Soldiers of Conscience2008-10-16
15. Inheritance2008-12-10