"American Tears of Russian Wifes" (2006)

[Admin]

Has anyone viewed this movie?

Comments?

- Dan

[myrddin]

Only that my Russian isn't up to the task yet, though some of that music sure is ominous...

[Misha]

Well one of the reactions to this film that I saw posted:

"Отличный фильм! Рекомендую посмотреть тем женщинам, которые ищут призрачных,сказочных, заграничных женихов. Вы даже не представляете через какие испытания, стрессы и трудности проходят наши женщины, живя заграницей!Правильно говорят, даже сами американские психологи,что знакомятся мужчины с женщинами по интернету - только неудачники (Losers),во всём смысле."

Roughly translated, the woman above recommends that all women that are looking for a fairy tale groom from overseas should look at this film. She says that you cannot imagine the stress and the difficulties that "our" women go through living overseas. She then says that they correctly say that even American psychologists affirm that that men who meet women through the internet are all losers in all the meaning of the word.

I found the documentary on google video and just started watching it. There is the story of one American who was scammed for more than $3,000. The photo they showed was that of a famous Russian artist. They then showed her. Her husband was surprised that someone would believe that such a beautiful woman would be looking for a husband online.

Next, we have a heavily tattooed American who is living in a small apartment and is on a disability pension. He married a woman, she came over with her child. Then, when she was 3-months pregnant, she disappeared cleaning out his apartment in the process.

[Kuna]

Well one of the reactions to this film that I saw posted:

"Отличный фильм! Рекомендую посмотреть тем женщинам, которые ищут призрачных,сказочных, заграничных женихов. Вы даже не представляете через какие испытания, стрессы и трудности проходят наши женщины, живя заграницей!Правильно говорят, даже сами американские психологи,что знакомятся мужчины с женщинами по интернету - только неудачники (Losers),во всём смысле."

Roughly translated, the woman above recommends that all women that are looking for a fairy tale groom from overseas should look at this film. She says that you cannot imagine the stress and the difficulties that "our" women go through living overseas. She then says that they correctly say that even American psychologists affirm that that men who meet women through the internet are all losers in all the meaning of the word.

I found the documentary on google video and just started watching it. There is the story of one American who was scammed for more than $3,000. The photo they showed was that of a famous Russian artist. They then showed her. Her husband was surprised that someone would believe that such a beautiful woman would be looking for a husband online.

Next, we have a heavily tattooed American who is living in a small apartment and is on a disability pension. He married a woman, she came over with her child. Then, when she was 3-months pregnant, she disappeared cleaning out his apartment in the process.

Perhaps we could join this thread with I/O's other current thread?   

[Admin]

This thread is still going on

All I can say is that if you look at this film you will understand that John is a prince compared to some of the men looking for RW  (This is the film Dan referred to in another thread.)

Sure, the film is in Russian, but trust me you don't need to know Russian to understand the quality of some of the men being depicted in this Russian documentary 

Out of curiosity, what are the 'credentials' of the company/organization producing that "Russian documentary"?

The reason I ask is, when I see ANYTHING so obviously tilted, it makes me think there is an agenda being promoted, rather than seeking to present the flat truth.

- Dan

[Misha]

Out of curiosity, what are the 'credentials' of the company/organization producing that "Russian documentary"?

The reason I ask is, when I see ANYTHING so obviously tilted, it makes me think there is an agenda being promoted, rather than seeking to present the flat truth.

- Dan

If you look at the end of the film, you see in the credits that it was created by ООО "Арт и Дизайн"  ("Art and Design") on order by the First Channel. If there was an agenda, it clearly came from the television channel and was certainly approved directly or indirectly by government officials. It is Russia's leading television channel.

[Admin]

If you look at the end of the film, you see in the credits that it was created by ООО "Арт и Дизайн"  ("Art and Design") on order by the First Channel. If there was an agenda, it clearly came from the television channel and was certainly approved directly or indirectly by government officials. It is Russia's leading television channel.

Do you know if they, the producers of the 'documentary', have any other credits that might speak to their expertise in producing programs such as this?

- Dan

[Misha]

Do you know if they, the producers of the 'documentary', have any other credits that might speak to their expertise in producing programs such as this?

- Dan

From what I gather, the producer of the film is a Russian living in the United States. A previous film: "Russians in Hollywood" [Русские в Голливуде]. More info in Russian here: http://www.jmd-style.com/content/view/2115/64/.

[Admin]

According to the listing at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/American-Tears-Russian-Michael-Feinstein/dp/B000M3LW16), the director is "Michael Feinstein".

Michael Feinstein appears to be a music recording artist - so I am unclear on the connection between his vocation as a recording artist - and directing this production.

- Dan

[Lily]

Dan,

Thanks for posting a link on the documentary, otherwise I could not see it.

The film is repugnant. It looks like a stupid yellow-press-like garbage. The creators picked up a few worst cases and try to tell, using some interviewed authorities, that it is what may expect women in America if they want to find a husband abroad.

To me it seemed like if I would hear someone telling me to abstain from driving a car, using the reasons that hundreds of people die in the accidents. However, if we look into the car accident statistics, we would eventually find out that those unfortunate drivers were either intoxicated, or driving way too fast from what would be reasonable, or driving recklessly, or, apparently, were getting in a tiny percent of real misfortune. Sh#t happens, of course. Same with international marriages.

My first though when watching those unhappy Russian women was why the heck you don't immediately go away from things that make you unhappy, as soon as you noticed them? Not fluent in English? How did you came there without being fluent in the language if you came here to live your life? Counting on the husband? I think a woman should hope for his support but they should not count on it or rely on it. it's my very IMHO but I guess this is a healthy approach to life, and your beloved husband, if you would be lucky to find one, may also benefit from this woman feature as one day he might be in need of her support as well.

The unfortunate selection was mainly based on the fact that the women were absolutely not suited for life abroad.Such people, probably, would really need to stay away from international marriages. I'd agree about this point with film creators.

I 'd wonder what film would Mr. Feinstein eventually make if he' d be presented with a material from the experience of the RWD members like Maxxum, Gator, KenC and others. Quality men. Superbe wives. No catchy peepshows for horror-blood-sh#t hungry audience

[55North]

Don't hold yourself back, Lily.   

Judging by what I've seen in the UK press and TV, many of the UK men shouldn't be issued passports to travel, let alone be associated with settlement visas.

[Lily]

I made a search 'russian women' among videos and found this:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=russian+women&sitesearch=#q=russian%20women&sitesearch=&start=40

These are also Russian women who came to America to live. Watch and listen to them. Quite a difference with the women in the subject movie..

[Misha]

I 'd wonder what film would Mr. Feinstein eventually make if he' d be presented with a material from the experience of the RWD members like Maxxum, Gator, KenC and others. Quality men. Superbe wives. No catchy peepshows for horror-blood-sh#t hungry audience

Well, Russia is facing a demographic crisis and paying women to have a second child. You have tens of thousands of women leaving Russia to marry foreigners, often with their children. The last thing the Russian state wants to do is encourage immigration. The best way to discourage women from leaving is to air on the national television stations that is seen everywhere in Russia a documentary exposing the horrors facing women leaving Russia. Given the current politics in Russia, I would expect to see more documentaries of this nature appearing in Russia in the coming months and years.

[Misha]

According to the listing at Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/American-Tears-Russian-Michael-Feinstein/dp/B000M3LW16), the director is "Michael Feinstein".

Michael Feinstein appears to be a music recording artist - so I am unclear on the connection between his vocation as a recording artist - and directing this production.

- Dan

I found the same references. From what I gather these are simply two different people. If you click on the link I provided, you can see a photo of Michael Feinstein the producer, posing with Steven Spielberg (who seems a bit annoyed).

[Admin]

Well, Russia is facing a demographic crisis and paying women to have a second child. You have tens of thousands of women leaving Russia to marry foreigners, often with their children. The last thing the Russian state wants to do is encourage immigration. The best way to discourage women from leaving is to air on the national television stations that is seen everywhere in Russia a documentary exposing the horrors facing women leaving Russia. Given the current politics in Russia, I would expect to see more documentaries of this nature appearing in Russia in the coming months and years.

Seems a likely explanation.

Also seems as if this approach addresses only the symptom and ignores the root cause. Symptom being emigration out of Russia - root cause being.... whatever is motivating the emigration (economy, etc.).

- Dan

[Misha]

Seems a likely explanation.

Also seems as if this approach addresses only the symptom and ignores the root cause. Symptom being emigration out of Russia - root cause being.... whatever is motivating the emigration (economy, etc.).

- Dan

Paying for a documentary is a lot cheaper than addressing the root causes 

[Admin]

Paying for a documentary is a lot cheaper than addressing the root causes 

Probably. However, with the wealth of information sources available now, and the fact that some, at least, will challenge those 'documentaries' (evidence, Lily in this topic), it seems to me they are likely to only reach, and effect, the less-gifted.

Eventually, things will have to point back to root cause. Symptomatic 'solutions' are normally mere palliatives.

- Dan

[Misha]

Probably. However, with the wealth of information sources available now, and the fact that some, at least, will challenge those 'documentaries' (evidence, Lily in this topic), it seems to me they are likely to only reach, and effect, the less-gifted.

Eventually, things will have to point back to root cause. Symptomatic 'solutions' are normally mere palliatives.

- Dan

The goal is not only to reach the women, but also their mothers, their aunts, their sisters, etc.... What was the first reaction when my wife told her relatives that she was marrying a Canadian: her drunk uncle scolded my MIL telling her that she should not allow her daughter to marry a foreigner. Then, there were the co-workers who warned my wife about the dangers of "sexual slavery." Then, there is the subtle call of patriotism: how can you leave your rodina/homeland. It won't deter all women, but it will deter some.

[ScottinCrimea]

Given the high percentage of RW that return after leaving to get married, we can't ignore the fact that there is some truth to what is portrayed in the documentary, perhaps more truth than we are willing to admit. The majority here have had a good experience with the process but I don't think we are a fair overall representation.  Given all of the propaganda in the other direction by agencies, etc., perhaps some propaganda on the other side is fair and warranted.

[Misha]

Given the high percentage of RW that return after leaving to get married, we can't ignore the fact that there is some truth to what is portrayed in the documentary, perhaps more truth than we are willing to admit.

What is a high percentage? It would be interesting to know what percentage of women who get married and eventually get their green cards/permanent residence/citizenship return to Russia if they divorce their husbands. Of all the women that I knew that left their husbands, most stayed. It goes without saying that those in happy marriages also stayed.

[Admin]

Given the high percentage of RW that return after leaving to get married, we can't ignore the fact that there is some truth to what is portrayed in the documentary, perhaps more truth than we are willing to admit. The majority here have had a good experience with the process but I don't think we are a fair overall representation.  Given all of the propaganda in the other direction by agencies, etc., perhaps some propaganda on the other side is fair and warranted.

What is a high percentage? It would be interesting to know what percentage of women who get married and eventually get their green cards/permanent residence/citizenship return to Russia if they divorce their husbands. Of all the women that I knew that left their husbands, most stayed. It goes without saying that those in happy marriages also stayed.

Without giving anything away - I will let you know that there is soon to be a comprehensive effort made to perform a wide-sweeping survey designed to answer just those sorts of questions.

Stay tuned . . . .

- Dan

[ScottinCrimea]

Misha, I was including those who came over on a K-1 who left or were sent home before getting married.

[Misha]

Misha, I was including those who came over on a K-1 who left or were sent home before getting married.

Ah, that is another story. It is not that they didn't want to stay, rather they had to leave.

[ScottinCrimea]

Ah, that is another story. It is not that they didn't want to stay, rather they had to leave.

It would be interesting to see the numbers of those who chose to leave versus those who were sent packing.  To make the assumption that they all wanted to stay given the choice is, IMO, wrong.

[Misha]

It would be interesting to see the numbers of those who chose to leave versus those who were sent packing.  To make the assumption that they all wanted to stay given the choice is, IMO, wrong.

I agree. It would also be wrong to say that they all wanted to leave. However, if I understand these K1's based on reading these forums, it is correct to say that they had no choice.