An Ordinary President

In this daring political satire from Belarus, black humor exposes the shape of totalitarianism in the Presidency of Alexander Lukaschenko, admirer of Hitler. Charting the despot's rise to power, the film shows how Lukaschenko began by promising to root out all governmental corruption - then used his knowledge of that corruption to become president. Khashchevatsky made An Ordinary President a political pamphlet, taking his cue from Michail Romm's Ordinary Fascism. Ever since Alexander Lukaschenko became president of Belarus, it is increasingly obvious that the state has turned into a dictatorship. Khashchevatsky charts Lukaschenko's career, showing how he was able to achieve power, how his personality changed and how he has used his position to create a totalitarian autocracy. Lukaschenko is a man who makes no secret of his sympathy for Hitler. Illuminating background details and explanations are provided by interviews with Lukaschenko's former friends and "comrades-in-arms," who have since become his opponents. They include Alexander Feduta, head of the presidential information office from July 1994 - January 1995; Yuri Sacharenko, minister of the interior from August 1994 - November 1995; Oleg Ignatenko, director of the presidential surveillance service from July 1994 - April 1996; and two chairmen of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Belarus; Stanislav Shishkevitch and Semion Shareki. "I simply had to make this film when I realized how basic civil rights in my country were being whittled away by President Lukaschenko and freedom of speech was being increasingly curtailed. I started working on it in 1995, well aware that it would be difficult and that we would be obstructed and threatened." - Yuri Khashchevatsky. (One World)