A Refusenik Diary

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This record is featured in “Exploring Public Media in the Peabody Awards Collection.” This record is featured in “Peabody Awards Collection.”
Program
A Refusenik Diary
Producing Organization
WHYY (Television station : Philadelphia, Pa.)
Contributing Organization
The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia (Athens, Georgia)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip-526-td9n29qg4k
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Description
Program Description
"A REFUSENIK DIARY portrays the moving story of one family's triumph over government oppression. The documentary shares the freedom flight of Soviet refuseniks Vladimir and Masha Slepak, and how they survived exile, imprisonment, and the loss of their jobs during their 17-year battle to leave the Soviet Union. Its timely story has been well received by viewers in this era of re-assessment of Soviet-American relations. "The program includes exclusive coverage of the Slepak's arrival in Vienna as well as interview footage smuggled out of Moscow before their release. A REFUSENIK DIARY producers were the only journalists to accompany the Slepak's on a private jet to Israel, and the interview enroute captures the Slepak's first reactions to their freedom and joyous popping of champagne corks when the flight reached Israeli airspace. "Many print and broadcast stories have reported on the struggle of Soviet Jewish refuseniks as pawns in the East-West conflict. A REFUSENIK DIARY presents a personal view. By focusing on the story of the emotions as well as the history of this tale of nationalism, repression and persistent courage. "A REFUSENIK DIARY follows the Slepak's arrival in Israel, covers press conferences in their newly adopted home and captures their wonder at their dream come true and their fear for their compatriots left behind."--1988 Peabody Awards entry form.The subject of this documentary is the story Soviet Jewish refuseniks Vladimir and Masha Slepnak as they fought to leave the Soviet Union. The program features interviews with the couple filmed in Moscow before their release, and the family's story is told by their sons Sanya and Leonid. The program features footage of the reunion of Sanya and his parents at the Vienna airport after the finally left the Soviet Union and the ensuing press conference. Vladimir talks about his emotions when finding out he and his wife would be able to leave the Soviet Union. Sanya narrates over footage of his parents' flight to Israel, and they talk about being able to see each other after ten years of separation. The program also documents their arrival at the airport in Tel Aviv, their emotional reunion with the rest of the family, and the following press conference. Vladimir talks about losing his job, the KGB searching their apartment, and being arrested on multiple occasions. Sanya recalls when he was able to leave the Soviet Union and his goodbyes with his family. Vladimir and Masha were exiled to Siberia, and they recall their experiences in exile. Leonid talks about leaving the Soviet Union and living in New York City. Vladimir and Masha talk about adjusting to living in Israel, and the program follows them as they walk around the Old City in Jerusalem and visit the Western Wall. Vladimir, Masha, and Sanya speak at the Jewish Agency, and they reunite with old friends and celebrate Vladimir's 60th birthday. Masha and Vladimir move into the Absorption Center in order to fully adjust to living in Israel, and the program ends with Vladimir and Masha meeting their grandchildren and reuniting with Leonid in New York City.
Broadcast Date
1988
Asset type
Program
Media type
Moving Image
Duration
01:02:52.286
Credits
Producing Organization: WHYY (Television station : Philadelphia, Pa.)
AAPB Contributor Holdings
The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia
Identifier: cpb-aacip-1311f4d419a (Filename)
Format: U-matic
Duration: 0:57:40
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Citations
Chicago: “A Refusenik Diary,” 1988, The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed June 25, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-526-td9n29qg4k.
MLA: “A Refusenik Diary.” 1988. The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. June 25, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-526-td9n29qg4k>.
APA: A Refusenik Diary. Boston, MA: The Walter J. Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Collection at the University of Georgia, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-526-td9n29qg4k