The Woman Who Found the ‘Russian Soul’—and Why the World Needs Her Films Now

By Regis Tremblay

The Filmmaker and Her Journey 

Gunilla Breski, a Swedish journalist-turned-filmmaker, has dedicated her career to bridging cultural gaps between Scandinavia and Russia. Starting as a radio journalist in northern Sweden, she spent 36 years creating programs highlighting the culture and history of the Nordic North, including Russia’s Arkhangelsk region. Her life changed in 1995 during a post-Soviet cultural exchange trip to Arkhangelsk, where she discovered Russia’s rich cultural tapestry and the resilience of its people. This inspired her transition to documentary filmmaking, focusing on underrepresented WWII stories and the "soul of Russia." 

Key Films and Themes 

• Night Witches: Chronicles the Soviet Union’s all-female bomber regiment, whose members flew over 800 missions in flimsy plywood planes. The film highlights their bravery and the German nickname "Nachthexen" (Night Witches). 
• Vladislav Mikosha: The Hollywood Soviet Hero: Explores the life of a Soviet cameraman who documented WWII, interacted with Charlie Chaplin in Hollywood, and symbolized Soviet-American wartime solidarity. 
• Blood Road: Uncovers the tragic story of 100,000 Soviet POWs forced to build a futile Arctic railway in Norway. 

Breski’s work emphasizes personal narratives, using diaries and archival footage to humanize history. Despite critical acclaim (e.g., winning Sweden’s Tempo Documentary Festival), her films faced distribution challenges post-2014 due to geopolitical tensions. 

Legacy and Challenges 

Breski’s films serve as a bridge between Russia and the West, countering stereotypes with stories of shared humanity. She describes the "Russian soul" as a deep resilience shaped by history, faith, and communal bonds. Her latest project investigates Soviet women kidnapped to Norway during WWII, highlighting forgotten wartime exploitation. 

Why Her Work Matters 

• Historical Revisionism: Challenges Western narratives that downplay Soviet contributions to WWII. 
• Cultural Preservation: Amplifies voices of ordinary Russians, from artists to veterans. 
• Political Relevance: Offers nuance in an era of heightened Russophobia, urging audiences to confront historical truths. 

Call to Action: Breski seeks collaborators to digitize her films for global educational use, ensuring these stories endure. 

#WWIIHistory #RussianCulture #DocumentaryFilmmaker #UntoldStories #NightWitches 

Regis Tremblay interviews Ms Breski