Russian through Film: For Intermediate to Advanced Students

Russian through Film: For Intermediate to Advanced Students is a multi-level textbook for learners of Russian that targets contemporary films in Russian. These films will deepen learners’ understanding of today’s lifestyles in the post-Soviet space as well as add to their understanding of Soviet and Russian history and culture. They represent a variety of genres ranging from romantic comedy to art-house cinema. These films present standard Russian and are appropriate for various audiences.

Russian through Film builds on students’ listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills while also expanding their cultural literacy. The textbook aims at improving learners’ ability to analyze films by carefully investigating the films’ plot, structure, conflicts, and main characters. Through task-based, inquiry-based, and project-based activities, the textbook focuses on developing learners’ skills in various modes of discourse (narration, description, comparison, explanation, and summary).

The textbook can serve as a primary text for a course on contemporary Russian films or a supplementary textbook in intermediate and advanced level classes. Separate chapters may be included in thematic classes on youth culture, Soviet history, sports, geography, folklore, contemporary social issues, and the arts.

Anna Kudyma is Senior Lecturer in Russian and Ukrainian at the University of California, Los Angeles (USA), and academic coordinator of the university’s Russian Flagship program.

Irina Six is Assistant Teaching Professor in Russian at the University of Kansas (USA), and a Russian Language Program Coordinator.

Irina Walsh is Lecturer in Russian at Bryn Mawr College (USA), and co-director of the college’s Russian Flagship program.