MovieChat Forums > Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer (2013) Discussion > Just finished watching it

Just finished watching it

posted 11 years ago by lulumary123
26 replies | jump to latest

I found it riveting - I was particularly astounded to learn more about how apparently Putin has co-opted the church in the name of the public good and "order", and I loved it when the girls' lawyer mentions that while the charges against them mentioned their "blasphemy" that Russia is supposed to be a secular country where that is not a crime.

These young women are so brave, learned, compassionate and intelligent. While their message seems to be a bit of shouting in the wind, considering the state of Russia today and Putin's iron grip on it, I found it so encouraging, especially being a citizen of a country in which religion is also invoked and co-opted to maintain control over a zealous populace. Watch it, its great.

"A sword is useless in the hands of a coward" - Nichiren Daishonin

[–] thebilliejean 11 years ago

I agree to disagree you should respect a religious sanctuary I hope none take inspiration a blasphemy another cathedral you should respect God and their sanctuary and this is coming from a Jew.

[–] Miss_Sui_Generis 11 years ago

I found it riveting as well. The young women were protesting against the union of church and state. The blasphemy was incidental.

Send lawyers,guns and money/The *beep* has hit the fan

[–] thebilliejean 11 years ago

They should not protest on a church you respect sacred places regardless of whatever the state want to do. You protest outside the church not in the church and definitely not the way they did.What they did was wrong as like the law say remember what you do wrong it going to comeback to you three times worse. If I was the judge I would have give them 12 year in prison.And the one playing the guitar seven months in prison.So they will learn the lesson.

[In case anyone say something about my grammar English is my fourth language and I do suffer from Dysgraphia]

[–] BKinzeys 11 years ago

If the church separates themselves from the State then they should expect no political protests. Sorry, but when the church involves itself in politics, then expect politics to be involved in church.

The church should not hide behind being a "sacred place". As a Jew, you yourself should understand what happens when a political stance is hidden behind religion.

[–] WolfmanFab 11 years ago

"These young women are so brave..."

These young woman are spoilt self indulgent brats! I am so tired of everyone these day's thinking that EVERYONE has to listen to THERE opinions. ..
Look, everyone has the right to think and say whatever they feel, just NOT on everyone else's time. No one is forcing Pussy Riot to go to church, but for the people who want to, the should be able to worship in peace.

Neo conservatives or Neo Liberal, .. both the same thing.

[–] ween-3 11 years ago

In all fairness, the Russian Orthodox church was outlawed for so long in Russia that there's a significant chunk of Russia's population who takes their returned freedom of religion extremely seriously. That said, however, the Russian gov't appears to be on a political crusade here, and is using the religious aspect as a convenient excuse to get popular support for the prosecution. Either way, it's criminalizing art, and that's never a good thing.

[–] Miss_Sui_Generis 11 years ago

"That said, however, the Russian gov't appears to be on a political crusade here, and is using the religious aspect as a convenient excuse to get popular support for the prosecution. Either way, it's criminalizing art, and that's never a good thing."

The Russian government on a political crusade is a frightening sight. That trial seemed like a throwback to the show trials of the Stalin era. "Hooliganism"!

Criminalizing art and criminalizing dissent are cherished Russian traditions. I imagine that Solzhenitsyn would have despised Pussy Riot but other dissidents could relate to their platform.

I also wonder how much protection other religions are given in Russia.

Send lawyers,guns and money/The *beep* has hit the fan

[–] ween-3 11 years ago

....and a Warren Zevon fan to boot? You had me at "hello".

[–] thebilliejean 11 years ago

Sorry but even my Atheist friend respect religious building these chicks are spoiled brats like someone say.God do not have the fault you should respect his place of worship.

[–] glo-co 11 years ago

You are bringing up personal religious beliefs and attempting to assert them into laws. From the standpoint of government and law, they should be treated no differently than if they had a spontaneous performance at a community center or museum. Why should a place you hold sacred have greater punishments than a place I value?

[–] oscarunger 11 years ago

people can dissagree with them and call them brats etc but I don't think you can say theyre not brave

[–] fortunate1 11 years ago

Very perceptively stated, acr-2.

[–] WolfmanFab 11 years ago

They are NOT brave. ...Spoilt self indulgent brats!
Do you realise they are much more important real issues ,and human rights in the world being violated than this nonsense? These brats have been given food shelter and an education, and choose to squander it on this 'perceived' human rights is, while there are children being forced as sex slaves, people starving, people who face deadly oppression all over the world? !?

Get some real perspective! !

[–] fortunate1 11 years ago

You betray your regressive, repressive prejudices, flaccid71; the wonderful thing about advancing human rights is that they're not parcel of zero-sum equations: one can militate against sex trafficking and/or against religious intolerance, object to human starvation and/or against state-sponsored fascism. People of pure conscience can strive to address all or some of those wrongs, since they're of a piece, but there's no one part of battling injustice that's inferior to another.

Frankly, I think it's you who needs to adopt a sense of perspective.

[–] WolfmanFab 11 years ago

Ahh name calling...refuge of the weak. It's ok Fortunate 1...heat up some milk, put it in your bottle, curl up in bed, have a bit of a cry and forget about the bad man who hurt your feelings just because he didn't agree with you opinion
Just remember, God loves you and all is right with the world.

[–] fortunate1 11 years ago

So English isn't your mother tongue, flaccid; there's nothing wrong with that, but be aware there's a broad audience for these threads -they'll be searching high and low for where I was "name calling", and find none.
My central point you avoided answering, though: more elusive a target, was it, or did you miss the truth entirely?

[–] HwajangshilAgashi 11 years ago

You really think anyone will be searching high and low for anything you said, flatulent1?

And why would anyone have to search at all, when it's right there for anyone to see that you called him/her repressive, regressive, and flaccid?

[–] evilbastard9 11 years ago

Please point to one line in where you were called a name other than flucidi71.

[–] HwajangshilAgashi 11 years ago

Like regressive, repressive, flaccid? Or you meant other than those three?
Because not once was s/he called "flucidi71".

[–] fortunate1 11 years ago

You're mixing things up, divorce; playing with variations on screen names is fairly standard here and not considered out of line. I suppose I could have called him "lucid" but I didn't regard his posts that way. Your calling me "Flatulent" was OK -puerile, actually, but not significant.

The accusations of flidi being regressive or repressive -contained as they were in the body of my response, addressing the substantive issues he raised: that, I suppose, merited some response but he didn't render one. I hope, then, that he's appreciative of your half-hearted effort on his behalf.

[–] hookem2010 11 years ago

Glo clo. I completely agree and respect that. Your point speaks wonders to this topic.

[–] lulumary123 11 years ago

Agreed! If Putin is not above using the church to further his agenda, and church leaders allow themselves to be used in the name of that agenda, then the church is a de facto collaborator and is fair game as an object of protest. The church has considerable power over policy, as such. These women advocate for separation of church and state, they said so explicitly.

It may not be "nice" to have a church altar be a protest stage, but it is the interest of democracy, which is a messy thing. Any church can have a political bent, as many do in the US, but Jerry Falwell dictating abortion policy is anti-democratic.

[–] jpkrunch 11 years ago

Interesting film. I think it was pretty fair, maybe 2 years is a bit stiff. But they did commit a crime and what they did should be a crime. There were victims and they should have known better. Yes they were extremely brave but I don't find them particularly intelligent. Average at best.

[–] globalist 10 years ago

They committed a crime? Funny the docu never mentions/cites what crime that might be.

1/10

- don't worry, that's just my signature there.

[–] boydwalters 11 years ago

Anyone with a brain and their eyes open isn't stupid enough to believe in ANY god ... The more stupid in society just believe anything the ruling classes encourage them to do so they can manipulate and control ... They are like sheep ... These girls are great and to be applauded ... And thats from a 57 year old man who isn't russian or a feminist ... How do you think in 20 years russia went from a communist state to somewhere where there is an outbreak of billionaires and everyone else has nothing just like before ? ... Open your eyes and see ... Question what you are told ... Otherwise the world will be dead in 2 generations ... It really is that simple

[–] hookem2010 11 years ago

Look. It's fine that you don't believe in god but don't tie this topic and this argument to the disbelief in "ANY" god. I believe in god. I do my best to live and breath that belief. As well as my belief in god I believe in standing up for what is right and for those that are wronged. This act of protest was an example of just that. The belief in religion or god had nothing to do with the matter at hand.