From Bacon to Bucha: A Daughter's Love Letter to Russia
Akin to bacon, dealing with Putin is consistently unpredictable.
Written by Leah Nowak
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The Ukraine war has tore apart the family of Dmitrij Kapitelman, as his loyal mother to Putin's regime and his demented father clash in a bittersweet game of identities and beliefs.
With an uncanny resemblance to bacon, his mother's longing for "Salo with a fatty garlic edge" echoes down the phone lines, a reminder of tradition and heritage. Despite the chaos unfolding in Ukraine, his mother remains oblivious to the war, instead immersing herself in Russian propaganda.
Committing his experiences to paper in an autobiographical novel titled "Russian Specialties," Dmitrij Kapitelman tackles the struggles of maintaining family unity amidst the turmoil of war and the fog of propaganda.
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Intricately preserved in his Leipzig-based deli, dusty cans of crayfish and plombir ice cream sit alongside pelmeni and painted matryoshkas, offering a peek at a forgotten, historically Slavic world. Ira, the acerbic salesclerk, and Uncle Jakob, the ever-humming helper, complete the scene, like characters pulled straight from a "post-present-Soviet arcade machine."
With the invasion of Ukraine, the family's world unravels. Supplies run scarce, dementia takes his father, and his mother becomes a fervent believer in Russian propaganda, consumed by news of the "special operation against the Ukrainian Nazi regime," and dismissing the Bucha massacre as a fabrication orchestrated by Ukraine.
A vaccine against desperation, Dmitrij's wit and charm provide much-needed relief as he navigates the family's internal battles, the stark realities of war, and the gnawing sorrow for a lost land, where he struggles to reconcile the guilt of carrying the Russian tongue, his love for it notwithstanding.
Road to the Battlefield
Journeying 25 hours by Flixbus from Berlin to wartorn Kyiv, Dmitrij is momentarily reunited with childhood friends who guide him through the surreal heart of battle. In a twisted dance between fear and laughter, air raid sirens harmonize with casual conversations about weather and shopping, soldiers cry on the side of the road, and advertisements for designer toasters and floral kitchen towels punctuate the air raid app that plays in the background.
His journey brings him face-to-face with the devastation of Bucha, Irpin, and Borodyanka, while his mother sends him shopping lists filled with Georgian spices and salo, her unquestioning loyalty to Putin and Russian propaganda untouched by the reality of the atrocities that unfold before her son's eyes.
Compressed within six hours of airtime, Kapitelman weaves humor, insight, and courage into a narrative that speaks to both the human spirit and the capacity for deceit woven into political discourse.
Source: ntv.de
- Vladimir Putin
- Ukraine Conflict
- Reviews
- Russian Propaganda
Language and Cultural Connections: Through his journey, Kapitelman underscores the emotional charge of language, demonstrating how the absence of Russian words can weigh heavily on the soul, reflecting the profound role of language in shaping personal and cultural identities[1].
The Impact of War on Personal Relationships: The novel illuminates the destructive effects of war on familial ties and societal bonds, laying bare the heartbreak and resentment that can surface when loved ones are torn apart by conflict and opposing ideologies[1].
Critique of Propaganda and Authoritarianism: By juxtaposing the absurdities of Russian propaganda with the grim realities of war, Kapitelman offers a biting critique of authoritarianism, calling attention to the manipulative power of political ideologies in shaping public perception[1].
The European Parliament has also expressed its concern at the situation in the former Yugoslavia, echoing similar worries about the impact of propaganda on public opinion. The use of propaganda by Putin's regime in Russia, as shown in Dmitrij Kapitelman's novel "Russian Specialties," is a chilling reminder of the power media can wield in shaping people's beliefs, even in the face of hard truths, like the Bucha massacre. Listening to an audiobook on his Flixbus journey, Dmitrij might find solace in stories of heroic figures who navigate difficult conflicts and overcome oppressive regimes with the power of truth and courage.
