- Occupation
Director - Country
Belarus
Dashkevich Aleh
Journalists
Belarus seems to be the only country in Europe where the state authorities have switched to the Soviet past again. After a short period of liberal changes, the society has been directed to a non-civilized mode of development. Belarusian journalists have sensed all the methods the authoritarian regime can use. Their publications were closed and professions were forbidden for them, their colleagues disappeared, they themselves were put into a jail. And they were tempted as well. Few of them have managed to stand this ordeal. Freedom of speech, its ideals were real not long ago, but now they have become dangerous to one's professional activities, to family and life. This film is a look at various Belarusian journalists to see how they make their choices. We must see the importance of being earnest in the times when the social and economic structures are changing. This choice between conscience and temptation, between fear and dignity turns out to be too difficult. The film contains the facts only. These are the facts of struggle between freedom and slavery. These facts make up the picture of morale existing in a state that is called the last dictatorship in Europe.
Monologues
"Monologues" is an attempt of self-realization of the generation of "Perestrojka", free speech, and the ruin of the "iron curtain". This movie is about the clash of generation's hopes and desires with the brutal reality. The documentary narrates on relations of people and the state and of the society and authorities as seen from perspective of the to heroes- the women and the man. Very different are they(he is a coach, she is a human rights organization activist and a writer). Still, they live in one country and face the same problems. Their meditations mix the personal with the social. It is a conflict between a personality and the totalitarian state. And you never know who is going to win.
Belarus seems to be the only country in Europe where the state authorities have switched to the Soviet past again. After a short period of liberal changes, the society has been directed to a non-civilized mode of development. Belarusian journalists have sensed all the methods the authoritarian regime can use. Their publications were closed and professions were forbidden for them, their colleagues disappeared, they themselves were put into a jail. And they were tempted as well. Few of them have managed to stand this ordeal. Freedom of speech, its ideals were real not long ago, but now they have become dangerous to one's professional activities, to family and life. This film is a look at various Belarusian journalists to see how they make their choices. We must see the importance of being earnest in the times when the social and economic structures are changing. This choice between conscience and temptation, between fear and dignity turns out to be too difficult. The film contains the facts only. These are the facts of struggle between freedom and slavery. These facts make up the picture of morale existing in a state that is called the last dictatorship in Europe.
Monologues
"Monologues" is an attempt of self-realization of the generation of "Perestrojka", free speech, and the ruin of the "iron curtain". This movie is about the clash of generation's hopes and desires with the brutal reality. The documentary narrates on relations of people and the state and of the society and authorities as seen from perspective of the to heroes- the women and the man. Very different are they(he is a coach, she is a human rights organization activist and a writer). Still, they live in one country and face the same problems. Their meditations mix the personal with the social. It is a conflict between a personality and the totalitarian state. And you never know who is going to win.
Aleh Dashkevich was born in 1963, graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Sports in 1989. Since 1990 in the Desk of Sports Programs as an instructor-consultant. Since 1992 in the independent TV company of MM-4 as a journalist, since 1994 as an editor-in-chief. Since 1995 in Internews Network as a journalist for the news program of Local Time. In 1997 author of a number of feature stories for the program of Anatomy of Passion at Internews Network. In 1998 a participant of the joint project Democratic Express of Internews Network, BBC, and Yuris Podnieks’s Studio of Documentaries (Latvia) about problems of post-communist society in East European countries. Since 1999 an independent producer and director. Has filmed the documentaries Knights of a Dream (1999), Simple Stories (2000), A Choice (2001), and Monologues (2005) with the support of the Baltic Media Centre. A winner of the Best TV Report in the Soros Foundation competition.