The film Bed and Sofa, directed by Abram Room comments on the increase in sexuality and the conflicts that arise from abortion in Soviet Russia. At the time, the controversial film posed a very interesting question about the progress of sexuality amongst women. What I found interesting was the parallels between the film and what was transpiring in American history at the same time. The roaring 20’s is labeled as a time of progress and an increase in independence and sexuality for women. This thought raised a question in my mind: if this film were American and released in the same manner as it was in Russia, would it be as controversial here as it was there?
Russia, the Soviet Union, and the CIS (HIS240 S20)
Revolution and its evolution!
Personally, I think that the film would still be controversial, if not more so, if it was released in America because of the stronger religious aspects in American culture. In Bed and Sofa, I never got a strong religious undertone but I think the abortion aspects of the movie would be much more prominent if this was an American film. The movie seems to focus much more on the power that Liuda has or feels she has to make her own decisions about abortion and leaving the men to start a new life. My point being that the movie focuses more on the empowerment that we have discussed in previous classes while if this movie was American, I think the religious objections from many American’s would have overshadowed the purpose of the film.